Moral narratives of sobriety: a qualitative study of a lived religion framework of Alcoholics Anonymous

Abstract

This study examines how Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can be understood as a “lived religion” that seeks to legitimize and moralize certain experiences and beliefs through narratives that are affirmed by the substance abuse recovery community. Through a qualitative analysis of 20 in-depth interviews with both actively recovering and non-actively recovering participants of AA, we identify three distinct moral narratives described by participants related to the construction of spiritual beliefs, individual health, and social belonging that highlight how the structure of AA reifies stories of addiction recovery as morally charged. We contribute to sociology of religion and addiction studies by examining how social and spiritual systems (i.e. systems embodying our complex and multi-faceted social connections to other people and our beliefs and attitudes about powers greater than oneself) orient alcohol addiction recovery within the context of AA support groups. For sociological inquiry more broadly, we show how moral narratives have the power to shift individual understanding of social support, power and self-control, and belonging.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maia C. Behrendt

Dr. Maia C. Behrendt is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Saint Norbert College, De Pere, WI, USA ([email protected]).

Kelsy Burke

Dr. Kelsy Burke is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA ([email protected]).