Yep still
spreading the disease! Rupert B, Billy (the Kid) et al (Hampton Wick Friday and Ormond Rd Tuesday – Richmond - cult meetings) are busily reinventing
AA in Esher's leafy suburbs so we are told. Here (as our
correspondent so amusingly puts it) the cult message is carried with
“the same admirable spontaneity as a North Korean display of
marching”. They continue: “Once a month 3 chairs in the same
meeting and NO sharing. …..The other three weeks ….Groundhog Day where [the] same passage [is read] every week (well,
almost)”. Thereafter there follows a lecture on AA history (cult
version – wasn't there something in the Big Book about “no
lectures to be endured etc”?). And of course the grand finale: the
“importance of sponsorship” (not mentioned in the Big Book but
what the hell!). Apparently all attempts at spontaneity - or
indulging in the 'Language of the Heart' - are much frowned upon, and
thereafter severely curtailed. As our reporter comments: “No time
for the poor sufferer. Can't have them diluting their knowledge and
endless recitals of AA history, or chunks of The Big Book, learned by
rote, but not understanding the context.”
So if
you're a newcomer who buys all that crap about “your best thinking
got you drunk” (a classic cult manipulative device designed to
undermine any kind of attempt at independent thinking on the part of
the neophyte. Remember its 'your best thinking' that got you to AA in
the first place, and is probably why you remain despite the best
efforts of the cult! And who's to say that some other alcoholic's
(ie. sponsor) 'best thinking' is necessarily any better than yours
anyway?!), and you're really determined to relinquish all
responsibility for your own life then this is the meeting for you.
Cheers
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
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