Extract
from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch
“There
is plenty of material here on AACultwatch to get you started. AA's
own histories ('Pass it On' and 'Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimer') can
be helpful.
The
'cult' that the Fellas are struggling against is a specific
manifestation of certain ugly trends, pushed by an identifiable set
of individuals in the UK. As an American AA, I see several broad
trends of ill-influence working against the fellowship.
1.
Religion. In the US, far-right religious groups are working to
destroy every democratic institution that stands in the way of their
dreams of dominion. This encourages an infestation of 'Christian'
recovery literature and organization which attempts to cross over
into AA.
2.
Related to 1 is the idealization of a fantasy of 'old style,'
'hardcore,' 'REAL' AA. This involves cherry-picking AA literature to
promote a pseudo-religious movement. The 'AA White Paper' exemplifies
this. These folks usually promote a false notion of the Oxford
Group/Moral Re-Armament which implies that it was a harmless
'spiritual' movement rather than a sinister cult. Read 'The Mystery of Moral Re-Armament' by Tom Driberg for a good background on the OG.
3.
Abusive and controlling sponsorship. This seems to flow from several
'mega-groups' like the Pacific Group [Clancy I] in Southern
California, the MidTown [Michael Quinones] Group in Washington etc.
These groups encourage a rigid, conformist approach enforced by a
kind of pyramid of authority with a leading guru or swami at the top.
I also
suspect the influence of treatment centers attempting to force
unwilling patients through pop-psych versions of 'The Steps.'
There
is NO clear line between sponsorship and 12th-stepping, every AA
member owes his gratitude to fellowship, not to any guru. My sobriety
(8,557 days) comes 24 hours at a time, just like the newcomer's. I
may need his/her help more than they need mine.
Anyway,
that's enough out of me for this morning. Just don't drink, go to
meetings, 'take what you need and leave the rest' (knowing that some
of 'the rest' is not really AA at all) and learn as much as you can.
Even
though AACultwatch is focussed on specific problems in England, the
general principles apply wherever alcoholics stay sober together.”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
