Is Alcoholics Anonymous turning into a neo-Oxford group cult?

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old) 

“Hi …....,

Thanks for your post. I think it is very relevant to this forum because I think all 12 step fellowships might be being targeted by the destructive cult(s). It may be that we are dealing with one international cult which at group level goes under a multitude of names and is spread across numbers of 12 step fellowships. I detect a movement operating under various descriptions and corporations targeting 12 step fellowship members with intent to amalgamate them into one evangelical neo-Oxford Group 12 step “recovery community”- a cure all for any addiction or compulsive behaviour. The movement has been powerful enough to split the national group conscience in USA/Canada, leading to AA losing official use of its Circle and Triangle trade mark to outside enterprises. A decision was taken in 1993 for AA World Services Inc. and AA Grapevine Inc. to stop using and protecting the symbol against the weight of around 170 unauthorised users. These included novelty manufacturers, publishers, and treatment centers.

(Box4-5-9 August-September 1993 ‘Letting Go' of the Circle and Triangle As A Legal Mark pp. 5-6: This was also reported in AA Grapevine  December 1993, Vol. 50 No. 7: “Around AA  Whatever Happened to the Circle and Triangle?” 

Unfortunately there was a large enough lobby within the fellowship supporting novelty manufacturers' illegal misuse of the symbol on medallions; this combined with enough timid, complacent or apathetic conference delegates who avoided their responsibilities of leadership in concept IX, to stand firm on traditions and their duty to act as guardians of the fellowship; to actively provide the deterrent to outside entities described in the General Warranties of Conference (specifically Concept XII, Warranty Five). An alternative to letting go of the symbol according to Warranty Five would have been for conference delegates to instruct the boards of AA World Services Inc. and AA Grapevine Inc. to inform the general public of the symbol's illegal misuse, naming the publishers, treatment centers and novelty manufacturers who were using it illegally. And also,to ask Public Information committees  throughout the AA world service structure, local and national, to deploy the protective action in warranty five by informing the general public also.

I think the symbol is still copyright and used in some forms by general service boards in UK and some other countries. So let’s hope the general service boards in these countries can hold onto it before AA loses its identity completely to outside enterprises. The primary aim for cults is to gain power for their leaders, to make them money, and to recruit new members. The profits from cult study guides, sponsor guides, step guides, meeting guides, distorted AA history guides, workbooks, other pre-conference and non conference approved literature, sobriety chips, medallions and other novelty items all head up somewhere to someone's big fat wallet.

You might find it useful to read ….....’s post under the “It has reached us too” thread. Also, the  “TLM in Alanon UK?” thread by …....

I think it has helped me to learn how cults operate, which is why I put up the "Useful Resources" threads in section 3 of this forum. I think large international cults are difficult to recognise because they can have numbers of front companies and groups under different names, continue to evolve, change names, recruitment targets and sometimes locations. They can be recognised more by their behaviour, group structures and type of language they use. The cult group in my AA intergroup was called “There is a Solution,” affiliated to the Primary Purpose Group, Dallas Texas and Dick B literature. Now that it has closed down, after much local opposition, I gather the person who started the group (and main driving force behind it) has relocated to another area. Thanks again for your post, I found the information useful to know."

 “I think the evidence is there in the field of sociology that these cults are targeting 12 step fellowships in general. The religious orientation of the cults and the influence they have had in changing the nature of groups are now deterring social workers from referring clients to 12 step fellowships unless they explicitly identify themselves as Christian.”

This is an extract from a paper titled “Addiction, spirituality and 12-step programmes” by Dr. W. Dosset, senior lecturer in religious studies at Chester University.

 “Research has shown that there is a resistance to referring individuals to TSPs [Twelve Step Programmes] because of the apparent religious nature of the programmes (as well as for other reasons) and social workers may consider them inappropriate for clients other than those explicitly identifying as Christian and would not wish to risk imposing religious beliefs and practices upon them. (Caldwell, 1999, Kurtz and Chambon, 1987, Laudet,2003) ( Addiction, spirituality and 12-step programmes, Dossett W, International Social Work, 56(3) 369–383)

These are extracts from a book titled “Take Back Your Life, Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships” by Professor J. Lalich, Professor of Sociology at California State University; a textbook used by professionals working in cult rehabilitation. 

“There are cults, for example, that focus their recruitment activities in drug-rehabilitation programs, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other twelve-step programs, as that milieu tends to be a ripe hunting ground for potential members.” ( Take Back Your Life: Recovering From Cults And Abusive Relationships, p 91) 

“In cases where alcohol or substance abuse was or is a problem, attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous may help. However, we caution you to proceed into the 12-step world with your eyes open and your antennae up. Despite its successes, this is an area rife with abuses and incompetencies. Hustlers use 12-step programs as a hunting ground for income and glory. Some counselors and group leaders are not credentialed. Some programs are fronts for cults. Even a well-meaning program may inadvertently promote long-term victimization. Although these groups are set up to reduce codependency, many participants become completely dependent on their 12-step meetings and friends.” ( Take Back Your Life: Recovering From Cults And Abusive Relationships" p194)

amazonbooks.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Take-Back-Your-Life-Relationships/dp/0972002154  amazonbooks.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Back-Your-Life-Relationships/dp/0972002154/####?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356182862&sr=1-3 

I think the faith based neo Oxford Group cult phenomena is something all 12 step fellowships are going to have to adjust to and protect against if 12 step fellowships are to survive in the long term. If there’s no opposition to the cults then they’ll just take over as more and more people leave the fellowships and fewer people are referred to them by professionals.”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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