In case you were wondering what, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves," (Step 4) might mean...
Pride: Excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. Why you may do it: Well-meaning elementary school teachers told you to "believe in yourself."
Envy: The desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. Why you do it: Because other people are so much luckier, smarter, more attractive, and better than you.
Gluttony: An inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. Why you do it: Because you were weaned improperly as an infant.
Lust: An inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Why you do it: Oh, please.
Anger: Manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. Why you do it: You're wired for it. Also, the people around you are pretty damn irritating.
Greed: The desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. Why you do it: You live in possibly the most pampered, consumerist society since the Roman Empire.
Sloth: The avoidance of physical or spiritual work. Why you do it: You're shiftless, lazy, and good fer nuthin'.
I wish I could take credit for this one, too, but it IS a place to start... I figure 5 out of 7 ain't bad!
:)
skg -
I graduated from a catholic college (though I'm not one) back in the stone age (1980) and was required to take two religion classes each year. One that really stuck with me was called Christian Ethics and a large part of the course was dedicated to a book titled The Seven Deadly Sins Today by Henry Fairlie. It's an examination of how the sins manifest in contemporary western society and is quite an interesting read. Who knew that a course I took almost thirty years ago would be more pertinent to my life now than it ever could've been then? Thanks for the thoughtful and amusing posts.
~MomNMore
I graduated from a catholic college (though I'm not one) back in the stone age (1980) and was required to take two religion classes each year. One that really stuck with me was called Christian Ethics and a large part of the course was dedicated to a book titled The Seven Deadly Sins Today by Henry Fairlie. It's an examination of how the sins manifest in contemporary western society and is quite an interesting read. Who knew that a course I took almost thirty years ago would be more pertinent to my life now than it ever could've been then? Thanks for the thoughtful and amusing posts.
~MomNMore
Catholicism was the dominant religion where I grew up (New England) and all of my friends, or so it seemed, went to catechism, mass, and all the other Catholic rituals of guilt. I had no idea why they couldn't eat meat on Fridays, but it was so prevalent the schools served fish (i.e., tunasty casserole) for hot lunch. Yes, back in 'the day,' as my kids would say, we didn't have a choice except to bring a lunch from home.
ANYWAY, and I still think my mother did a far better job of developing guilt than the Catholics ever could. There was a very defined Catholic/Protestant division and my mom cultivated it, too. It wasn't until I ventured into the Episcopal faith that I found out the reasons for Lent, the seasons of the church, and the differnece between catholic and Catholic. Well, that and wine over non-alcoholic Eucarist....
Thanks for the smiles. Oh. I graduated in '76--you're just a baby... :)
Peaceness.
ANYWAY, and I still think my mother did a far better job of developing guilt than the Catholics ever could. There was a very defined Catholic/Protestant division and my mom cultivated it, too. It wasn't until I ventured into the Episcopal faith that I found out the reasons for Lent, the seasons of the church, and the differnece between catholic and Catholic. Well, that and wine over non-alcoholic Eucarist....
Thanks for the smiles. Oh. I graduated in '76--you're just a baby... :)
Peaceness.
I know just where you're coming from - NE born, bred, and still living here. We were raised Greek Orthodox on a street of Irish Catholics and Italian Catholics in a town pretty much the same except for the old guard Protestant Yankees. Remember CCD (some called it cathecism class)? I always wanted to go, wanted to be one of them. Kids are funny. How do I know this? Because, as you pointed out, I'm a kid myself. =)
That's funny. I always thought catechism was like Sunday school or Bible school (my mother hosted that in our home weekly--you know, with the velcro board on an easle in the corner and little figures that could be placed to tell stories?), and all the Catholic girls used to giggle about it. Yes, I have Joe's Garage--perhaps one of the most profound ALBUMS ever written.
Either that, or I was stoned.
but seriously, they were very good at guilt and Puritan work ethic and all that stuff that twisted my brain into addictions of a variety of things.
Either that, or I was stoned.
but seriously, they were very good at guilt and Puritan work ethic and all that stuff that twisted my brain into addictions of a variety of things.
Ah, that word ALBUM. Have caught myself saying it ocassionally to my students (10 year olds) and get back that blank stare. We really are datibg ourselves. =)
Probably a bit of both on the Zappa reference (stoned AND profound). A bit of ancient rock opera, eh? Catholic girls and Jewish Princesses...
Probably a bit of both on the Zappa reference (stoned AND profound). A bit of ancient rock opera, eh? Catholic girls and Jewish Princesses...
So like I go into this like salon place, yknow
And I wanted like to get my toenails done
And the lady like goes, oh my god, your toenails
Are like so grody
It was like really embarrassing
Shes like oh my god, like bag those toenails
Im like sure...
She goes, uh, I dont know if I can handle this, yknow...
I was like really embarrassed...
*********************************************************************
WW was introduced to Frank Zappa via Valley Girl......LMAO
And I wanted like to get my toenails done
And the lady like goes, oh my god, your toenails
Are like so grody
It was like really embarrassing
Shes like oh my god, like bag those toenails
Im like sure...
She goes, uh, I dont know if I can handle this, yknow...
I was like really embarrassed...
*********************************************************************
WW was introduced to Frank Zappa via Valley Girl......LMAO
I have two Bier Crates (Beer crates from Germany) FULL of acutal albums from about 1975 (Aerosmith, Kiss Originals, Alive I and II, Bad Company, ELO, etc.) AND still have my Technics turntable! I DO NOT, however, have an amp to hook it up to, so my records are getting steadily older without being able to share!
There were Saturday nights I'd sit down with a (several) glass of wine and just play albums--maybe one or two tracks from one, couple from another, etc. and get fuzzy. Ah, the days before drugs and alcohol fought back! :)
Thanks for the memories, you two.
There were Saturday nights I'd sit down with a (several) glass of wine and just play albums--maybe one or two tracks from one, couple from another, etc. and get fuzzy. Ah, the days before drugs and alcohol fought back! :)
Thanks for the memories, you two.
This is the one I was looking for.
Things have changed since I've comitted to doing the steps, but the results are pretty much the same.
I'm not Catholic--more like catholic or agnostic--but I brooded over these for miles and miles while running. Regardless the method, the outcome still seems to be the same--and that's a good thing. I'm on the right track. I'm a little disappointed, however, as I feel like I've taken steps backwards in recovery rather than forwards. I suppose if I'd given it some rigorous thought I'd have realized that stepping back to pick up The Program the right way would inevitably require some 're-visiting' of old stuff. The difference is that I'm far more thorough than doing it myself--and doing it "right, according to the 12 Step Program of AA.
So anyway, just thought I'd toss thoughts out there.
Things have changed since I've comitted to doing the steps, but the results are pretty much the same.
I'm not Catholic--more like catholic or agnostic--but I brooded over these for miles and miles while running. Regardless the method, the outcome still seems to be the same--and that's a good thing. I'm on the right track. I'm a little disappointed, however, as I feel like I've taken steps backwards in recovery rather than forwards. I suppose if I'd given it some rigorous thought I'd have realized that stepping back to pick up The Program the right way would inevitably require some 're-visiting' of old stuff. The difference is that I'm far more thorough than doing it myself--and doing it "right, according to the 12 Step Program of AA.
So anyway, just thought I'd toss thoughts out there.
Hey guys!
I, too, lived in New England as a kid, Newton, Mass? Right outside of Boston? Loved it but we moved to Texas (that was a culture shock!) when I was about 11. I do remember all the catholics though, cuz I wanted to be one. Went to Catholic church with my best friend and catecism on Saturday (I remember like Bible study). I also graduated (High School) in '77 and loved Aerosmith, Kiss, Bad Company, ELO, Ah, yes, back in the day! I enjoyed ya'lls (now I live in Atlanta, excuse the slang) posts! I'm usually on the pain pill category, but I had my time with alcohol too. I grew up in the Disco era, it was required to be drunk lol!
I, too, lived in New England as a kid, Newton, Mass? Right outside of Boston? Loved it but we moved to Texas (that was a culture shock!) when I was about 11. I do remember all the catholics though, cuz I wanted to be one. Went to Catholic church with my best friend and catecism on Saturday (I remember like Bible study). I also graduated (High School) in '77 and loved Aerosmith, Kiss, Bad Company, ELO, Ah, yes, back in the day! I enjoyed ya'lls (now I live in Atlanta, excuse the slang) posts! I'm usually on the pain pill category, but I had my time with alcohol too. I grew up in the Disco era, it was required to be drunk lol!
Gidday All
Steps are made to go up and down, fast or slow and you can even sit on the buggas and rest, if you dont pay attention you can trip and fall.. maybe break something, or maybe if you take the time and be sure of each step then they will all lead somewhere positive:)
light and love Zac
Steps are made to go up and down, fast or slow and you can even sit on the buggas and rest, if you dont pay attention you can trip and fall.. maybe break something, or maybe if you take the time and be sure of each step then they will all lead somewhere positive:)
light and love Zac
did someone say Catholic ?? just a jump in and personal share.
i grew up Catholic too and am still catholic but today a better catholic
with much more clear perspective and much less spiritual sickness
thanks to the Combination of the steps and the church .
i grew up with major guilt also. did the same insane thing week after week with
the same redundant confessions and never knowing the word amends meant
to really make a change. well ofcourse i always expected a new result but
kept on doing it all over and over . but eventually it paid off.. i found the 12 steps.
today i know there are 12 steps to make those 12 stations of the cross.
there is a fellowship in the church and a fellowship at the tables.
only say the words ( in the meetings ) and i shall be healed.
the recognition of the holy spirit . holy spirit meaning to recognise Truth.
i also know today what is Bigger than me is temptation, and that i was so
Enmeshed with the alcoholics and addicts in my head that even god
himself had alcoholic behaviors. he was minimising, judging, punishing,
unloving, and unkind to me. that would be incorrect i now know it was me judging him on a daily basis and not the other way around because
my understanding has been put into a better perspective.
greatful to the church and to the steps and remembering both are a
fellowship but there is alcoholism in the church and it takes the steps
to really have a healthy spiritual connection to both but both are good
and full of healing. although without the steps the church alone can
lead me back into spiritual sickness but without the church i'm still spiritually sick.
love is an action i now know, not just a feeling. and moral inventory.
moral meaning good and right, also means to see the good in us
because if we aren't
we aren't taking an honest inventory. have since learned God is the only one who will ever love us without conditions.
i grew up Catholic too and am still catholic but today a better catholic
with much more clear perspective and much less spiritual sickness
thanks to the Combination of the steps and the church .
i grew up with major guilt also. did the same insane thing week after week with
the same redundant confessions and never knowing the word amends meant
to really make a change. well ofcourse i always expected a new result but
kept on doing it all over and over . but eventually it paid off.. i found the 12 steps.
today i know there are 12 steps to make those 12 stations of the cross.
there is a fellowship in the church and a fellowship at the tables.
only say the words ( in the meetings ) and i shall be healed.
the recognition of the holy spirit . holy spirit meaning to recognise Truth.
i also know today what is Bigger than me is temptation, and that i was so
Enmeshed with the alcoholics and addicts in my head that even god
himself had alcoholic behaviors. he was minimising, judging, punishing,
unloving, and unkind to me. that would be incorrect i now know it was me judging him on a daily basis and not the other way around because
my understanding has been put into a better perspective.
greatful to the church and to the steps and remembering both are a
fellowship but there is alcoholism in the church and it takes the steps
to really have a healthy spiritual connection to both but both are good
and full of healing. although without the steps the church alone can
lead me back into spiritual sickness but without the church i'm still spiritually sick.
love is an action i now know, not just a feeling. and moral inventory.
moral meaning good and right, also means to see the good in us
because if we aren't
we aren't taking an honest inventory. have since learned God is the only one who will ever love us without conditions.
I heard in a meeting that,"religion is for those who don't want to go to Hell. Spirituality is for those who've been there."
I've experience many religious sects, christianity not excluded. The fundamental, bedrock theology seems to be that some power greater than me can relieve me of the bondage of self. If I immerse myself in me, sooner or later ME will fail. Simply because I'm human--not omnipotent and universal. But there is one power that I've come to believe can relieve me of the obsessions and bondage of self. That power is MY Higher Power. It may be the same as yours, it may not, but it works for ME and allows me to experience life in a manner that is tolerant, non-judgemental, loving and accepting.
I've not found an organized religion where I can find the level of judgement-free acceptance and love that I've found in AA. As I progress through The Program of AA, I'm finding that it is a "design for living" that I was never privvy to previously--or understood.
Organized religions must serve a purpose. I've heard old-timers say that since they've been in AA, the churches seem to be learning alot. Whatever. Right now MY HP is keeping me sober and guiding me through the Steps that will lead me to The AA Promises. P R O M I S E S. Guarantees. Certainties that have withstood the tests of millions. Not 'rights' or 'wrongs.'
Seems good enough for me.
I've experience many religious sects, christianity not excluded. The fundamental, bedrock theology seems to be that some power greater than me can relieve me of the bondage of self. If I immerse myself in me, sooner or later ME will fail. Simply because I'm human--not omnipotent and universal. But there is one power that I've come to believe can relieve me of the obsessions and bondage of self. That power is MY Higher Power. It may be the same as yours, it may not, but it works for ME and allows me to experience life in a manner that is tolerant, non-judgemental, loving and accepting.
I've not found an organized religion where I can find the level of judgement-free acceptance and love that I've found in AA. As I progress through The Program of AA, I'm finding that it is a "design for living" that I was never privvy to previously--or understood.
Organized religions must serve a purpose. I've heard old-timers say that since they've been in AA, the churches seem to be learning alot. Whatever. Right now MY HP is keeping me sober and guiding me through the Steps that will lead me to The AA Promises. P R O M I S E S. Guarantees. Certainties that have withstood the tests of millions. Not 'rights' or 'wrongs.'
Seems good enough for me.
