“non AA literature” - that means ANYTHING!

Extracts from old aacutlwatch forum:

“Don't quite see how that is the case given that (what I take to be) the parts you are referring to are listed as "Unofficial AA Sites".

Isn't that rather like the guideline that says you can have non-AA literature in a meeting provided that it is on a separate table from our stuff.

Even if that shouldn't be on the website how does that make it cultish??”

and:

“... which illustrates precisely the point - that by establishing such a guideline a precedent is set for the display not only of "non-AA literature" (which means literally anything) but also by extension other forms of communication (e.g. DVDs, CDs, and of course websites). Therefore, it can easily be envisaged that a group (or groups) could end up disseminating information to the newcomer which they (the newcomer) would take in turn to be legitimate guidance on recovery whereas in fact this literature (websites etc) simply reflects the personal preferences (and biases) of those people making the selections. In the case of conference approved literature it is to be hoped that this material has been scrutinised by a wider range of individuals (and over a longer period of time) and such biases have been eliminated (or least minimised) - or in other words - why bother having any kind of general scrutiny other than to ensure that the information supplied is not misleading or contrary to AA traditions? In theory I could argue in my group that we should carry literature on the harm-minimisation approach (non-AA literature) and should anyone object I can simply point out (and by citing the Big Book) firstly to the different "types" of alcoholics, and moreover that not everyone attending the meeting may in fact be an alcoholic (this last defined in whatever way I choose) and therefore such literature might be helpful. Should this fail I can point to the conference guideline and say that it allows for such literature etc. Of course the group may decide against it but then of course I could go off and start my own group (quite legitimately) together with like-minded people (naturally) and display such literature, and we could still call ourselves an AA group. The notion that simply putting the non-AA stuff on a separate table and that this somehow distances it from "authentic AA" is about as daft a notion as the quaint idea (in the days when people still smoked in meetings) that one side of the room could be set aside for the smokers and the other for the non-smokers, and that somehow, and quite magically, the smoke would never migrate from one section to another.

As for the cult activities of this group take a look at the website [Wimbledon Design for Living] - seems pretty cultish to me whichever way you cut it – and then appearances can be deceptive – most cults present an attractive front to newcomers – the soft sell, followed by the hard sell – followed by.....”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)