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Tuesday 17 March 2015

The hand of AA! We think not!


We continue to get mails from members new to AA who've had the misfortune to be 'welcomed' into the fellowship by the cult. The key characteristics of cult arrogance are usually present: a dogmatic attitude towards recovery, dismissive of people who relapse, threatening, idolisation of 'personalities', sexist attitudes, discriminatory conduct towards those suffering from depression, bigoted and so on..... none of it particularly attractive!

Our responses (edited to preserve anonymity) to the member on the receiving end of this appalling conduct:

From what you say your ex-sponsor is simply a bully – and a pretty uninformed one at that! Relapse is pretty common in AA (although clearly not recommended) – either pre-joining the fellowship or afterwards. And if it was all about 'choice' we really wouldn't need AA at all would we! As to whether you're ready or not to take the steps that's your decision not hers. We're aware of only one qualification for taking them (and it's written down in the Big Book, Chapter Five, How it Works) ie. “if you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths” etc (“any lengths” being determined by you and not by anyone else). If you don't feel that you're ready then you're not ready – end of! Again as to whether you're an alcoholic or not – guess what? That's up to you not her! As for you being a [member of a particular religion] AA is not affiliated with any sect, denomination, etc. This statement is read out at the beginning of every AA meeting. Your spiritual/religious path is your business not hers. (By the way one of the aacultwatch team members is [of the same denomination] and has been sober nearly thirty years so you're in good company!)

Perhaps you might count yourself fortunate to have been given such a clear example on how NOT TO carry the AA message by cult members. It'll stand you in good stead in the future when you help others. If you've got good groups in your area where people don't feel it's their right to abuse you then stick with them and give the others a miss. AA's full of decent men and women who've got better things to do than try and run other people's lives. They're called 'grown ups', and they know how to act in a responsible and respectful fashion.

For our part we steer well clear of the 'personalities' in AA. We suspect that they don't possess much in a way of a 'personality' in the first place. They're undoubtedly insecure and need the adulation of others in order to feel some sense of self-worth. They're over-compensating perhaps! It's sad really.

You'll undoubtedly find people in AA who will care for you and who won't waste their time judging whether you're doing it right or not. They're called friends – and that's what our fellowship is all about really.”

and:

We're sorry to hear about your bad experiences with cult members. What you describe is entirely characteristic of their conduct – nice and friendly on the outside but when you get past the surface appearance everything changes – especially when it comes to their brand of so-called 'sponsorship'. If you haven't already then we strongly recommend you read the AA pamphlet on the subject: Questions and Answers on Sponsorship. You will find nothing in there (or in any other AA literature) which remotely suggests that sponsors have the right to order people about or pass such judgements on them or indeed engage in shaming or abusive behaviour – which is what you've been on the receiving end of. We hope that this has not put you off AA itself. Most people, by and large, simply want to be helpful. Sometimes they do overstep the mark but this is usually through error rather than according to some misshapen interpretation of our fellowship and programme..... Either way we hope you stick with AA and your own recovery. Don't be put off by a few idiots – because that's precisely what they are”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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