Higher Power

Higher Power is a euphemism for God, the supernatural, or the godhead.

Preach to the choir
Religion
Crux of the matter
Speak of the devil
An act of faith
v - t - e

The term was first coined by Bill Wilson, the spiritualist founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and features heavily in their sobriety program.

Although a former governor of Oklahoma once claimed that a Higher Power could be something as corporeal as a tree and members of AA cite other Higher Powers such as doorknobs, closet doors, and toilet seats, numerous U.S. court rulings have held that it is definitely a religious term referring to a supernatural entity, and thus it is unconstitutional to force convicts to attend AA meetings.[1]

In this vein, it sees use as a code word by Christians who are trying to be "inclusive" or deceptive and thus refrain from saying which Higher Power they mean;[2][3][4][5] however, although these people may sing the praises of "a relationship with a Higher Power," they are not exceedingly enthusiastic about relationships with a certain other Higher Power.

See also

References
  1. http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/jn.html
  2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080129-1.html
  3. http://godisnot3guyscom-jeanette.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-message.html
  4. http://www.christianpost.com/Life/Health/2008/10/researchers-do-higher-power-relationships-lead-to-or-out-of-depression-31/index.html
  5. http://higherpowerprayer.com/
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