Bill W., the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, wrote this to a friend in 1946, sharing this thought:
Many people soberly assure me that man has no more place in the universe than that of another competing organism, fighting its way through life only to perish in the end. Hearing this, I feel that I still prefer to cling to the so-called illusion of religion, which in my own experience has meaningfully told me something very different.
REFERENCE
Copyright(c) As Bill Sees It: The A.A. Way of Life – Selected Writings of A. A’s co-founder. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, New York 1967. Page 137.
I have added this comment from Bill W., to indicate why many 12 Step programs use the Our Father in their fellowship meetings. Again, Bill W., wanted the fellowship to understand that the Twelve Steps program of recovery was a suggested way of recovery.
Hugh S.
“A person who persists in prayer finds himself in possession of great gifts. When he has to deal with hard circumstances, he finds he can face them. He can accept himself and the world around him.
He can do this because he now accepts a God who is ALL – and who loves all. When he says, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, ” he deeply and humbly means it. When in good meditation and thus freed from the clamor of the world, he knows that he is in God’s hands, that his own ultimate destiny is really secure here and hereafter, come what may.”
RESOURCE: As Bill sees it: The selected writings of A.A.’s co-founder. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. New York. 1967. P.293.