higherpower

Higher power is a flexible term used across religious, spiritual, and secular contexts to denote a supreme being, an ultimate reality, or a force greater than an individual. It can refer to a personal deity, an impersonal principle, nature, or the collective wisdom of a group. The phrase is often intentionally nonspecific to accommodate a wide range of beliefs and to avoid endorsing any particular doctrine.

In Alcoholics Anonymous and many related 12-step programs, the higher power concept plays a central role. The language is designed to be inclusive, allowing participants to interpret the term in a personal way. Traditional text presents the idea as a power greater than oneself that can restore sanity, while still permitting individual understandings of what that power may be. This approach aims to support recovery while respecting diverse beliefs.

The term is used in various religious and philosophical traditions. In monotheistic contexts, it is frequently identified with God; in polytheistic or nature-based frameworks, it may refer to a supreme principle or the divine as a whole. Atheists or agnostics might reinterpret it as the moral authority of a community, the tendencies of nature, or one’s own higher reasoning and values.

Critics note that the term can be vague or exclusionary for non-believers, while supporters argue that its adaptability makes recovery and spirituality more inclusive. Related concepts include deity, spirituality, faith, and personal belief systems.