You’ve attended an AA meeting, listened to people share, and perhaps heard something that made you feel a little less alone.
Then everyone stands, joins hands, and begins:
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Wait a minute.
Isn’t AA supposed to be nonreligious?
Yes. AA is not affiliated with any religion, and reciting the Lord’s Prayer is not an AA requirement.
So why do some meetings use it?
A little history
Alcoholics Anonymous emerged in the United States in the 1930s, influenced in part by Christian spiritual traditions and the Oxford Group.
Prayer was part of AA’s early history, and the Lord’s Prayer became customary in some groups.
Over time, AA spread into different communities, cultures, and countries.
Meeting customs evolved too.
Today, some AA groups close with the Lord’s Prayer. Others use the Serenity Prayer, a moment of silence, or another closing of the group’s choosing.
Some don’t use a closing prayer at all.
What does AA literature say?
The Twelve Steps describe a spiritual program, but AA does not require adherence to a particular religion.
Tradition Three establishes that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Tradition Four gives groups considerable autonomy in deciding how to conduct their meetings.
And Tradition One reminds us of the importance of unity.
Together, those principles provide room for different meeting customs.
Why does it matter?
For some members, the Lord’s Prayer is a familiar and meaningful expression of their spiritual life.
For others, particularly those from non-Christian backgrounds or those who have experienced difficulty with organized religion, it can feel uncomfortable or exclusionary.
Both experiences deserve respect.
A group may choose to continue a longstanding tradition. Another may decide that a different closing better reflects its membership and community.
Those decisions belong to the group’s informed conscience.
And individual members are free to participate in a prayer—or not.
Perhaps the larger question is whether our customs help the alcoholic who still suffers feel welcome.
After all, the purpose of an AA meeting isn’t to determine whether everyone shares the same theology.
It’s to help alcoholics recover.
From AA’s Literature
For further reading, AA publishes:
The Twelve Traditions Illustrated, particularly the discussions about Tradition One, Three and Four.
Available through AA.org.
If you’re new, try a few different meetings. Your room is out there.