--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational…" description: "\"“As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed out, steps 2 and 3 are a con—a classic “bait and switch.” Specifically, step 3 poses obviou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg" --- # As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed… ![“As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed out, steps 2 and 3 are a con—a classic “bait and switch.” Specifically, step 3 poses obvious problems for atheist and agnostic newcomers who have chosen, for example, a doorknob as their “Power greater than [themselves].” How does one turn…” quote by Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg) > ““As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed out, steps 2 and 3 are a con—a classic “bait and switch.” Specifically, step 3 poses obvious problems for atheist and agnostic newcomers who have chosen, for example, a doorknob as their “Power greater than \[themselves\].” How does one turn one’s life over to a doorknob?”” [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques steps that replace a higher power with a meaningless object, highlighting the absurdity for non‑believers. **In simple terms:** It mocks using a doorknob as a “higher power.” Key Takeaway Question the relevance of vague spiritual steps. Themes skepticism religion recovery Mood ironic critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - Addiction recovery meetings - secular support groups - personal reflection Key Concepts Existentialism cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How can recovery programs be inclusive of non‑theistic views? - What alternatives exist for spiritual framing? A Different Perspective May alienate participants who need concrete guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agnostic Newcomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic-newcomers-4124511/) [Doorknob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doorknob-278954/) [Life Doorknob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-doorknob-4124509/) [Problems Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-atheist-1869517/) [Rational Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-recovery-4124510/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me that a Christian like myself is presented with major problems, but they're nothing like the problems of the atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/it-seems-to-me-that-a-christian-like-myself-is-presented-with-major/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I’ll need a house key,” she said as she followed him into the house. “Why?” The question so stupefied her that she stopped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-ll-need-a-house-key-she-said-as-she-followed-him-into-the-house-why/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [“Blasted doorknob of a kender”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/blasted-doorknob-of-a-kender/) [Margaret Weis Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/) > [Just a turn of the doorknob, and there lies freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/just-a-turn-of-the-doorknob-and-there-lies-freedom/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Realistically, I shouldn't be able to turn a doorknob without having some discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/realistically-i-shouldn-t-be-able-to-turn-a-doorknob-without-having/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [...if I were asked to think up a new name for temptation, I should recommend the word 'doorknob', because what are these protuberances put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/if-i-were-asked-to-think-up-a-new-name-for-temptation-i-should/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [“I let go of our invisibility and do something I haven't done in a while: I reach for the doorknob. ~Willow Mosby, EXPOSING ELE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-nuckels/i-let-go-of-our-invisibility-and-do-something-i-haven-t-done-in-a/) [Courtney Nuckels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-nuckels/) > [Tell me something, Raphael?" He was already turning, heading to the door. "What is it you'd like to know, Guild Hunter?" She hid her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/tell-me-something-raphael-he-was-already-turning-heading-to-the-door/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [You know, your like a doorknob it seems like everybody gets a turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-wise-brianna-young/you-know-your-like-a-doorknob-it-seems-like-everybody-gets-a-turn/) [The Wise Brianna Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-wise-brianna-young/) > [“I could barely make out the wooden door and had to move my hands over it for a while before I found the iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-could-barely-make-out-the-wooden-door-and-had-to-move-my-hands-over/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [I put my hand on the doorknob because I thought maybe her hand was on the doorknob on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-put-my-hand-on-the-doorknob-because-i-thought-maybe-her-hand-was-on/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“There is no such thing as a bad day when you have a doorknob on the inside of a door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmdr-paul-galanti-us-navy-ret-former-prisoner-of-war-vietnam-returned-in-1973/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-day-when-you-have-a-doorknob-on-the/) [Cmdr. Paul Galanti US Navy ret former Prisoner Of War Vietnam returned in 1973](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmdr-paul-galanti-us-navy-ret-former-prisoner-of-war-vietnam-returned-in-1973/) > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. Try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-have-a-one-question-language-test-that-people-who-have-lived-abroad/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There's no such thing as a bad day when you have a doorknob on the inside of the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-galanti/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-day-when-you-have-a-doorknob-on-the/) [Paul Galanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-galanti/) ## More by Charles Bufe > [“God would reveal “Himself to anyone who would “listen,” and that “He” had a minutely detailed plan for every human life. The sheer chutzpah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/god-would-reveal-himself-to-anyone-who-would-listen-and-that-he-had-a/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“There’s a huge difference between stating that you have a problem and are going to do something about it, and stating that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/there-s-a-huge-difference-between-stating-that-you-have-a-problem-and/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“INCEST, n. In many parts of the Bible Belt, the most popular form of dating”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/incest-n-in-many-parts-of-the-bible-belt-the-most-popular-form-of/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“On December 11,1934, Wilson’s drinking came to a screeching halt. On that day he was readmitted to Towns Hospital, sedated, and subjected to Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/on-december-11-1934-wilson-s-drinking-came-to-a-screeching-halt-on/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“As well, the very religiosity of step 2 is a major problem for many persons. Like steps 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11, step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/as-well-the-very-religiosity-of-step-2-is-a-major-problem-for-many/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This is yet another step which invokes “God” and encourages dependence rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/were-entirely-ready-to-have-god-remove-all-these-defects-of-character/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“In sum, the 12 steps are not a road to recovery, let alone the road to recovery. They are, instead, a road to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/in-sum-the-12-steps-are-not-a-road-to-recovery-let-alone-the-road-to/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/11-sought-through-prayer-and-meditation-to-improve-our-conscious/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) > [“In short, the first step leads to low self-esteem, learned helplessness, personal irresponsibility, and binge drinking. The first step is a step toward disaster;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/in-short-the-first-step-leads-to-low-self-esteem-learned-helplessness/) [Charles Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) [Explore all 10 Charles Bufe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/) ## More Doorknob quotes > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. Try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-have-a-one-question-language-test-that-people-who-have-lived-abroad/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [“There is no such thing as a bad day when you have a doorknob on the inside of a door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmdr-paul-galanti-us-navy-ret-former-prisoner-of-war-vietnam-returned-in-1973/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-day-when-you-have-a-doorknob-on-the/) [Cmdr. Paul Galanti US Navy ret former Prisoner Of War Vietnam returned in 1973](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmdr-paul-galanti-us-navy-ret-former-prisoner-of-war-vietnam-returned-in-1973/) > [I put my hand on the doorknob because I thought maybe her hand was on the doorknob on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-put-my-hand-on-the-doorknob-because-i-thought-maybe-her-hand-was-on/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“I could barely make out the wooden door and had to move my hands over it for a while before I found the iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-could-barely-make-out-the-wooden-door-and-had-to-move-my-hands-over/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [You know, your like a doorknob it seems like everybody gets a turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-wise-brianna-young/you-know-your-like-a-doorknob-it-seems-like-everybody-gets-a-turn/) [The Wise Brianna Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-wise-brianna-young/) > [Tell me something, Raphael?" He was already turning, heading to the door. "What is it you'd like to know, Guild Hunter?" She hid her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/tell-me-something-raphael-he-was-already-turning-heading-to-the-door/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“I let go of our invisibility and do something I haven't done in a while: I reach for the doorknob. ~Willow Mosby, EXPOSING ELE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-nuckels/i-let-go-of-our-invisibility-and-do-something-i-haven-t-done-in-a/) [Courtney Nuckels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-nuckels/) > [...if I were asked to think up a new name for temptation, I should recommend the word 'doorknob', because what are these protuberances put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/if-i-were-asked-to-think-up-a-new-name-for-temptation-i-should/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [Realistically, I shouldn't be able to turn a doorknob without having some discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/realistically-i-shouldn-t-be-able-to-turn-a-doorknob-without-having/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Just a turn of the doorknob, and there lies freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/just-a-turn-of-the-doorknob-and-there-lies-freedom/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Blasted doorknob of a kender”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/blasted-doorknob-of-a-kender/) [Margaret Weis Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/) > [“I’ll need a house key,” she said as she followed him into the house. “Why?” The question so stupefied her that she stopped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-ll-need-a-house-key-she-said-as-she-followed-him-into-the-house-why/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [There's no such thing as a bad day when you have a doorknob on the inside of the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-galanti/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-day-when-you-have-a-doorknob-on-the/) [Paul Galanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-galanti/) > [“The physicists have their hands on the doorknob. If they paid more attention to their dreams, they would know what questions to ask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/the-physicists-have-their-hands-on-the-doorknob-if-they-paid-more/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) [Browse all 22 Doorknob quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doorknob-278954/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed out, steps 2 and 3 are a con—a classic “bait and switch.” Specifically, step 3 poses obvious problems for atheist and agnostic newcomers who have chosen, for example, a doorknob as their “Power greater than [themselves].” How does one turn one’s life over to a doorknob?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bufe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-recovery-has-pointed-out-steps-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doorknob" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-recovery-has-pointed-out-steps-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/charles-bufe-40675_quote_as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-reco_1278748.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational Recovery, has pointed out, steps 2 and 3 are a con—a classic “bait and…” — Charles Bufe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Bufe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bufe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As Jack Trimpey, founder of Rational...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-recovery-has-pointed-out-steps-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bufe/as-jack-trimpey-founder-of-rational-recovery-has-pointed-out-steps-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```