Al anon and God

[TheLasrStraw]

Been to some meetings and now reading their books.

If you don't practice a faith, do you just gloss over the God bits?

I have heard people in group and online discuss this and many use an alternative to a 'god'. Some place faith in the wisdom of long-sober group members or the collective. Some think of people involved in their healthcare or addiction services who have given them guidance. Some think of scientists working to combat addiction. As I understand it (and it's obviously a very subjective thing) it is something outwith yourself that can see beyond the situation you're in. Many people are uncomfortable with the faith aspect of AA and prefer things like Smart recovery meetings. I have heard people openly talk about atheism but accept the idea that they need help from something/someone beyond themselves in whatever form that may be.

It's something outside of yourself that's bigger than you. I used to think of nature as my "God" and often during a difficult time the windows would seem to pick up around me. It was a huge comfort.

You're handing your will over to a higher power - it can be anything.

There's a chapter in the Big Book called to the agnostic. Start with that. As PPs have said, it is simply accepting something bigger than you. This may be God, or the group itself, or something else entirely. Good luck OP