An adaptation of the 12 Steps of AA, by Jill Ja. This version is specifically for those who have been spiritually wounded in dysfunctional religious environments.
1. We admitted we had questions about our belief system and dysfunctional religious experience—that our thoughts, rational thinking and gut instincts didn't really line up with what we'd been taught about God.
3. Made a decision to seek the truth at all cost, even though it may have caused our friends or family to freak out at us, worry for us, shame us, and in some instances even completely shun us and tell us we were lost or going to hell.
4. Made a searching and fearless critique of our belief system and religious experiences and then did another searching inventory of ourselves. We then started the process of healing from wounds that were identified in the inventory and made preparations to leave the dysfunctional religious environments (if we hadn't already) and if it was possible to do so.
5. Admitted to ourselves, and to another human being (if we felt inclined to), that we have believed wrongly and may have hurt ourselves and others with our dysfunctional religious beliefs and practices.
6. Were entirely ready to have an authentic revelation of the goodness of our Higher Power and to act on that new understanding.
7. Sought through prayer, meditation and showing love to others to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power.
8. Began to accept responsibility and work (with or without our Higher Power) to remove all hate, fear, bigotry and dysfunctional theology, practices and doctrines in our lives as a step towards healing.
9. Made a list of all persons we had harmed (including ourselves), and became willing to make amends to them all and commit to seek further healing for ourselves, including professional counseling if necessary.
10. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them, others or ourselves.
11. Continued to take personal inventory of ourselves and our evolving belief system and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it and changed our words/actions.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we endeavor to carry this message to the spiritually wounded, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
© 12 Steps Spiritually Wounded Anonymous by Jill Ja 2012
(Edited by Brent McCay)
(While the 12 numbered paragraphs, identified as “The 12 Steps of Spiritually Wounded Anonymous,” were inspired by the Twelve Steps of A.A., they are not an adaptation. Rather, they were created specifically for this support group, and should not be construed otherwise. A.A., which is a program concerned only with recovery from alcoholism, is not in any way affiliated with this program.)
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