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How Faith Promotes Change
In childhood, I lost trust in my parents and traditional religion and have since struggled with understanding and embracing the complexities of faith. Faith implies reliance on something beyond our ordinary consciousness. People generally associate faith with religion and adherence to religious texts and doctrines. I often envied those with a devout religious faith, as it can provide great succor in times of distress.
Although interpretations vary, major religions define God through their texts. Theistic religions share themes of viewing God as an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent creator.
However, faith needn’t rely on such definitions. It can stem from spiritual principles, personal experiences, a higher power, or the universe devoid of established teachings. Many newcomers to Twelve Step programs who have abandoned their religious beliefs choose to place their faith in the group or the program’s principles.
Some people consider God to be remote and impersonal, as an omnipotent creator, existing outside of the universe. In contrast, pantheists believe God to be synonymous with the universe and nature, existing in everything. Followers of panpsychism view God as an evolving, dynamic, interconnected creative process. For people who experience God as their personal higher power, guide, and companion, that power can manifest through common beliefs…
