Ask AI: What is the founders message in Alcoholic's Anonymous about it not being a religious program

The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, explicitly made it clear that AA is not a religious program, but a spiritual one. The main goal of AA is to enable its members to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve the same. While its 12 steps involve a process of spiritual growth and the concept of a Higher Power, this Higher Power is intentionally undefined and can represent anything that is bigger and more powerful than oneself. It is highly individual and could be anything – nature, love, the universe, the collective spirit of humanity or a traditional God. The founders' aim was to make the 12-step program inclusive and available to people of all faiths or none, so the notion of a Higher Power is to be understood in the context of one's own personal beliefs. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking, not religious adherence or belief. The founders essentially stressed that the spiritual aspect of AA is about personal growth and recovery, not about adhering to a particular set of religious beliefs or dogmas.