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  • About us

All recovery paths can help, though Secular* AA holds a special place in our hearts.

Online secular meetings

Secular*

 

 Secular AA is a non-religious approach to recovery within Alcoholics Anonymous. It welcomes people of all beliefs and none, and offers peer support and a path to sobriety without requiring belief in God, a Higher Power, or any supernatural explanation. You might be Agnostic, Atheist, Freethinking or have a humanist approach to life without the need for any religious beliefs or outside faith. However, it is for anyone who has a desire to stop drinking. 


Tom - 29 years old

Sarah - 38 years old

Sarah - 38 years old

 I grew up with no religion or faith, It just was'nt something my family did,  so when I needed help with my drinking, I worried recovery groups weren't for someone like me. Discovering Secular AA was a huge relief—I didn't have to pretend to believe anything, and six months sober later, I've found support, friendship and a better way to live. 

Sarah - 38 years old

Sarah - 38 years old

Sarah - 38 years old

  I wanted recovery that felt relevant to the life I live today—a working mum, teenagers, endless responsibilities and no religious beliefs. In Secular AA, I found understanding, support and hope without having to be anyone other than myself. I'm one happy "customer" with almost 2 years sobriety. I never want to feel so lost again. Secular AA has given me a life I want to keep.

David - 62 years old

Sarah - 38 years old

David - 62 years old

 After retiring early, I realised my drinking was getting worse, but I thought AA wasn't an option because I wasn't religious. Finding Secular AA was a revelation—it gave me a path to recovery that made sense to me. I was never "anti - God"  but I was'nt about to get honest and then fake a belief. I can actually attend traditional meetings knowing I have secular AA  as my "home base"

Secular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)


  . 


"Our own experience is primarily within Secular AA, and we are passionate about helping people discover this option. However, we recognise that recovery is personal, and we aim to provide information about a range of pathways so that individuals can make informed choices for themselves." 

  

Secular AA

What is Secular AA?

Secular AA is part of the wider Alcoholics Anonymous mutual support network. It follows the same primary purpose as AA everywhere: helping people recover from alcohol problems through mutual support and shared experience.

The difference is that Secular AA meetings do not require belief in God, a Higher Power, or any supernatural explanation for recovery.

Members are free to interpret recovery in whatever way makes sense to them. Some identify as atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, sceptics, or simply people who prefer a non-religious approach. Others may have personal spiritual beliefs but appreciate a secular meeting environment.

Secular AA is not anti-religious. It simply provides a space where recovery can be discussed without assumptions about faith or belief.

How Does It Work?

Like other AA meetings, Secular AA meetings bring together people who share their experience, strength and hope with one another.

Members support each other by:

  • Attending meetings
  • Sharing honestly about their experiences
  • Listening to others
  • Building sober friendships and support networks
  • Exploring practical ways to stay alcohol-free

Some members work through the Twelve Steps using secular interpretations. Others focus on fellowship, personal growth, accountability, and learning from the experiences of others.

There is no requirement to believe any particular philosophy, religion, or worldview.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Who Might Like This Approach?

Secular AA may appeal to people who:

  • Struggle with religious language
  • Do not believe in God or a Higher Power
  • Feel uncomfortable with supernatural explanations
  • Prefer a humanist or evidence-based outlook
  • Have tried traditional AA but found parts difficult to relate to
  • Want support from others who understand recovery without requiring faith

Many people find that Secular AA allows them to benefit from the fellowship, experience, and practical wisdom of AA while remaining true to their own beliefs.

Common Questions

Do I have to be an atheist to attend?

No.

Secular AA meetings are open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking. People of faith, no faith, and those who are unsure are all welcome.

Is Secular AA separate from Alcoholics Anonymous?

Secular AA meetings are generally AA meetings that operate within the traditions and principles of Alcoholics Anonymous while offering a non-religious meeting environment.

Do people still use the Twelve Steps?

Many do.

Some members use secular interpretations of the Steps, while others focus more on fellowship and practical recovery tools. There is no single "correct" way to approach recovery within Secular AA.

Is Secular AA anti-religious?

No.

Secular AA exists to support people who prefer a non-religious approach to recovery. It does not seek to criticise or challenge anyone else's beliefs.

Can I attend if I'm not sure I have a drinking problem?

Yes.

Many people attend meetings while they are still trying to understand their relationship with alcohol.

Will I be asked to speak?

No.

Most meetings welcome newcomers simply to listen if they prefer.

Benefits and Considerations

Potential Benefits

  • Welcoming environment for non-believers
  • Access to the experience of other people in recovery
  • No requirement to adopt religious beliefs
  • Available online and in person
  • Free to attend
  • Strong sense of community and mutual support

Things to Consider

  • Meeting styles vary from group to group
  • Some areas have fewer secular meetings than traditional AA meetings
  • Recovery is personal, and what works for one person may not work for another
  • Many people benefit from combining meetings with therapy, counselling, medical support, or other recovery resources

How Do I Find Meetings?

Secular AA meetings are available both online and in person.

Online meetings allow people to attend from anywhere and can be particularly helpful if there are no local secular meetings nearby.

Many newcomers find it useful to try several meetings before deciding whether a particular group feels right for them.

Useful Reading


  • Living Sober
  • Staying Sober Without God by Jeffrey Munn
  • Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life
  • The "GOD" word - Written for and by Agnostic and atheist members in AA
  • The Little Book: A Collection of Alternative 12 Steps
  • The original text of AA dating back to1939 is in it's "Big Book" and it would be wrong not to reference it here and APPENDIX 2 of the Big Book does confirm that AA is for everyone. It asks EVERYONE to investigate the means to recovery.  

A Final Thought

Recovery does not require you to change your beliefs.

Many people have found lasting sobriety while remaining atheists, agnostics, humanists, people of faith, or simply people who are still searching for answers.

What matters most is finding support, connection, honesty, and a path that works for you.


What happens at a secular AA meeting?

 

Every Secular AA meeting is a little different, but most share the same simple purpose: helping people recover from alcohol problems by sharing experience, support and practical solutions.

Like traditional AA meetings, members are encouraged to speak honestly about their drinking, recovery and the challenges they face. The difference is that Secular AA does not require anyone to believe in a higher power, deity, supernatural force or religious doctrine.

Many meetings begin with a welcome, a brief reading and an introduction to the meeting format. Some meetings focus on a recovery topic, while others invite members to share whatever is on their mind.



Common Meeting Topics

A topic meeting might explore subjects such as:

  • Dealing with cravings
  • Building new habits
  • Managing stress and anxiety
  • Relationships and recovery
  • Honesty and self-awareness
  • Learning to live alcohol-free
  • Finding purpose and meaning
  • Gratitude without religion
  • Handling setbacks
  • The practical application of the 12 Steps

Members are free to share their thoughts and experiences on the topic, or simply listen if they prefer.



What Sharing Might Sound Like

You won't usually hear lectures or advice-giving. Instead, people speak from their own experience.

For example, someone might say:

"When I first came to AA, I was desperate to stop drinking but struggled with the religious language. I worried that recovery wasn't available to people like me. Then I discovered Secular AA and realised I wasn't alone.

What helped me wasn't finding a new belief system. It was listening to people who had faced the same problems and found practical ways to stay sober. Over time I learned how to manage difficult emotions, build healthier routines and ask for support when I needed it.

Today my life isn't perfect, but it is calmer, more stable and far more rewarding than it was when I was drinking. Secular AA showed me that recovery was possible without pretending to believe something I didn't."

Another member might share:

"I spent years trying to convince myself that I could control my drinking. Every promise I made to myself eventually failed. What changed wasn't a sudden revelation—it was being honest about what alcohol was doing to my life and learning from people who had already found a way out.

The support I found in Secular AA helped me understand that I didn't need to change my beliefs to recover. I simply needed willingness, honesty and the support of others who understood what I was going through."



No Pressure, No Tests of Belief

People attend Secular AA from many backgrounds. Some are atheists, agnostics or humanists. Others have religious beliefs but prefer a non-religious recovery environment. Many are simply unsure.

What unites members is not a shared belief system, but a shared desire to recover from alcohol problems and help others do the same.

You never have to declare a belief, defend a belief or adopt a belief. The focus remains where many people feel it belongs: on recovery, mutual support and living a better life without alcohol.

Online secular meetings

Secular AA on zoom


Many people first discover Secular AA through online Zoom meetings. While face-to-face meetings are growing across the UK  and around the world, Zoom allows people to access support immediately, wherever they live.


Attending online can feel much less intimidating than walking into a room full of strangers for the first time. You can simply listen if you wish, keep your camera off, use only your first name, and participate at whatever level feels comfortable for you. Many people find that attending a few online meetings helps build confidence before trying an in-person meeting.


The great advantage of Zoom is that support is available every day, often at multiple times throughout the day. You can connect with people who understand exactly what you're going through, whether you're questioning your drinking, newly sober, or have many years of recovery.

On this page you'll find a link to Worldwide Secular AA Zoom Meetings. The meeting list automatically adjusts meeting times to your local time zone, making it easy to find a meeting that fits your schedule, wherever you are in the world.


Many of today's face-to-face secular meetings began with just a handful of people meeting online. By joining a Zoom meeting, you're not only finding support for yourself—you may also be helping the secular recovery community grow in your area for those who follow.


See the ONLINE SECULAR MEETINGS button above.








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