The purpose of a secular meeting is to maintain a tradition of free expression. Here, those in recovery from alcoholism and/or addiction may feel free to express any doubts or disbeliefs they may have and to share their own personal form of spiritual experience, their search for it, or their rejection of it. Our only wish is to assure suffering alcoholics and addicts that they can find recovery without having to accept anyone else’s beliefs or having to deny their own.
The intent of a secular meeting is not to deny anyone their belief. All are welcome. A significant difference is there are no recitations of “prayers” of any sort. The only readings may consist of a Preamble, the meeting format, and a closing statement. Some meetings may not have any readings and go straight into discussion. As it should be, group conscience is the guide for these decisions.
Are the meetings AA or NA?
Some meetings are Secular AA, Secular NA, Secular Al-Anon, Recovery Dharma, or simply Secular Recovery meetings without any other associations or affiliations.
