For many, the journey to sobriety is deeply intertwined with their faith or spiritual beliefs. Faith-based sobriety utilizes religious or spiritual principles and practices to support recovery from addiction, providing a framework for meaning, purpose, and connection. This approach recognizes that addiction often involves a spiritual void and seeks to fill that void with faith-based practices and community support.
Disclaimer: The page aims to explore this form of abstinence and not to force a particular view upon any users.
Core Principles of Faith-Based Sobriety:
- Surrender to a Higher Power: Recognizing a power greater than oneself and surrendering to its guidance and support. This “higher power” is often understood as God, but can also be interpreted more broadly as a source of love, wisdom, or strength.
- It should be noted that not all religions or belief systems are the same, yet surrendering to this power is a central theme in the first step.
- Confession and Repentance: Acknowledging one’s sins or shortcomings and seeking forgiveness. This can involve making amends to those who have been harmed and committing to living a more ethical life.
- Prayer and Meditation: Engaging in regular prayer and meditation to connect with the divine and cultivate inner peace and guidance.
- The user needs to understand how these help and how they can work with them.
- Scripture Study: Studying religious texts for inspiration, wisdom, and guidance on living a virtuous life.
- Community Support: Participating in faith-based communities and receiving support from fellow believers.
- There are also many good resources online that may be useful for all aspects.
- Realizing and Accepting that God Exists: It has been scientifically proven that there is something bigger than ourselves. In addition, for many it’s impossible to believe a complex world just created itself.
Key Elements of Faith-Based Programs:
- Biblical Teachings: Incorporating teachings from the Bible or other religious texts into the recovery process.
- Prayer and Worship: Providing opportunities for prayer, worship, and other religious practices.
- Fellowship and Support: Creating a supportive community of believers who can offer encouragement, accountability, and practical assistance.
- Service to Others: Encouraging individuals to give back to their communities and help those in need. The act of which has been found to heal the soul.
- Accountability Through God: For any mistake it’s now not just accountable through yourself but your relationship with God.
Examples of Faith-Based Recovery Programs:
- Celebrate Recovery: A Christ-centered 12-step program for people struggling with addiction, codependency, and other hurts, habits, and hang-ups. https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
- The Salvation Army: Offers a range of addiction treatment and recovery services based on Christian principles. https://www.salvationarmy.org/
- Teen Challenge: Faith Based Programs that focus on helping teens with drug additions. https://teenchallenge.ca/
- Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and Significant Others (JACS): Provides support and resources for Jewish individuals and families affected by addiction. https://jacsny.org/
Benefits of Faith-Based Sobriety:
- Provides a Sense of Meaning and Purpose: Helps individuals find meaning and purpose in their lives, which can be a powerful motivator for recovery.
- Offers Hope and Encouragement: Provides a sense of hope and encouragement, reminding individuals that they are not alone and that recovery is possible.
- Connects Individuals with a Supportive Community: Connects individuals with a community of like-minded believers who can offer support, accountability, and fellowship.
- Provides the Tools for Forgiveness: Forgiveness from others and for yourself is very powerful when it comes to addiction. It’s an opportunity to be truly reborn.
- The freedom of surrendering can allow a user to express a true form of themselves.
Potential Considerations:
- Not for Everyone: This approach may not be suitable for individuals who are not religious or spiritual.
- Potential for Exclusion: Some faith-based programs may be exclusionary or judgmental toward individuals who do not share their beliefs.
- Importance of Inclusivity: It is essential that faith-based programs be inclusive and welcoming to individuals from all backgrounds and beliefs.
- To Not Over Rely On Others To Provide Answers: Rather explore yourself with a sense of individual responsibility.
- Recognising God May Not Be Real: What are the options if the use doesnt believe? Look at science?
- The fine line between it being a helpful tool or a cult like structure: Does God exist, and is a belief essential to success?
A Non Set Belief
- The program doesn’t depend on having a specific belief. It all depends on self accountability.
- You may still attend without having the same thoughts or opinions as others as these groups offer support.
- It’s OK to not know what to believe and use it as a tool for self recovery, without necessarily being set on any view
We appreciate the varied belief systems of our users and aim to provide a non biased resource when it comes to Faith Based Sobriety as we believe it to be one of great benefit.
Resources for Exploring Faith-Based Sobriety:
- Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
- The Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmy.org/
- Teen Challenge: https://teenchallenge.ca/
- Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and Significant Others (JACS): https://jacsny.org/