Is AA a Cult?

Extracts:

"Groups such as The Atlantic Group are altering the AA message and affecting the principle of the 12th Step."

"According to these Traditions, the organization as a whole is only concerned with recovery from alcoholism, but individual groups run autonomously. “This allows them to form hidden agendas,” says Philip S., formerly a homeless heroin addict, now a small business owner with more than 31 years in AA. “I sometimes wish we did have a governing body.”

These “agendas” can make any concern for recovery almost unrecognisable. The Pacific Group and Atlantic Groups—big on the alternate coasts—dictate dress and language codes. One Atlantic Group member told me she was advised to date from within the group, and when she started seeing someone from an “outside” meeting, she was encouraged to bring him into the fold. She complied, and when they broke up she stopped going to AA altogether, because the ex was attending with his new girlfriend."

Source: Lisa Kirchner, The Fix, 23/02/16

Brexit – a pantomime (and farce) coming to a theatre near you!

As we threatened a bit of light relief with a brief (sighs of great relief) diversion from our usual theme (cult control freaks and sexual predators)

Brexit: Phase One – Honest Dave (our noble and extremely trustworthy prime minister, author of that notable trilogy (fiction): “We're all in this together!” followed by “The Big Society” and concluding with “No ifs, no buts... but a lot of maybes!”) has concluded his long running pantomime “A reformed EU”. Far from being critically acclaimed it's been generally panned by anyone and everyone with a brain cell still functioning (excepting those, of course, with an agenda! vide. Theresa “Aren't my shoes pointy!!” May and George “The Knife” Osborne).

The plot so far:

Objective: A reformed EU. Result: Nul points. The EU continues much as it has over the last forty years as it heads towards its final resting place – complete and utter European DISintegration. Someone please transport it to Dignitas and put it out of its misery!

Objective: A cap on migration. Result: Nul points – the general consensus is that the measures announced so far will make virtually no difference to current levels of inward migration. In fact the expectation is that this will continue to increase.

Objective: Exemption from further EU convergence. Result: Nul points. This part of the agreement is so vaguely worded (probably deliberate) as to be capable of the widest possible interpretation, and therefore open to challenges both as to its legality and enforceability. A non-starter....

Objective: Security (and recognition) of sterling as a second currency within the EU. Result: Again nul points. We're not part of the eurozone. Sterling stands (or falls) accordingly. Another non- starter ….

And so on....

The next phase:

The FARCE: Honest Dave (and establishment cronies – or some of them at least!) abandon the pantomime and begin touring the country with their latest production – “You'll be Sorry”, a farce in three acts: Act I: Brexit – DO PANIC! Act II: The Russians Are Coming. Act III: Armageddon (we haven't quite got to the 'plague of locusts' or 'the seas will run red with blood' stage yet but give them time!) Unfortunately critics have pointed to the marked similarities in the plot line employed in this latest production to those used in “Scotland the Brave: The One That Almost Got Away!” Inducing fear and trepidation in an audience might work for slasher films but in comedy it rarely works. As time passes we expect the writers to go to even more desperate lengths to engage (or is it disengage?) their audience!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous …. and Europe.... and Democracy …. but NO Friends of the EU!)

Phew! Got that out of our system! You'll be much relieved to hear that we'll be resuming our usual themes shortly .....  beginning with Sexual predation: 13 Stepping at the Plymouth Road to Recovery (cult) group

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition Five

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition Four

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

Coming soon! In a departure from our usual theme (cult thugs and other psychopaths) aacultwatch presents its own in-depth analysis of the IN/OUT debate... yeah that one!

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition Three

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition Two

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition One

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

Colchester Big Book Study (Sunday evening)

Update

We've been told that the above meeting has been “restored to sanity” and now follows a normal AA format.... in other words a section of the book is read out, someone (a non-expert) shares about it and then anyone else who wants to speak (other non-experts) does so... No sponsors are required nor are there questions to be answered nor homework to be marked …. It's what's called Keeping It Simple! Who'd've thought it!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

The 'space cadet' moves ever closer to the 'fourth dimension'

Yep! Another correspondent has sent in Wayne's (Plymouth Road to Recovery cult group) latest contribution to Western culture via Facebook (another significant tax avoider) .. a picture of himself!

Looks like a Step Two job to us!

One wonders how far he will have 'rocketed' into his own psychotic delusions before those little men in the white coats come to TAKE HIM AWAY....

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous … and still present on planet Earth!)

PS Our usual thanks to our correspondents

aacultwatch – who ARE the mystery men, women, aliens behind it? And who cares!

From time to time we get emails from people who think they know who the people are who run aacultwatch. Sometimes we get emails from people who've even been ACCUSED of running the site (as if it were some kind of criminal offence!!). To date nobody has come anywhere close... And the reason why? We refer you to our introductory statement which has been on the front of the site since we started back in .. when was it? … Oh yeah sometime in 2008 .. or was it 2007? Anyway it seems like aeons ago …

https://web.archive.org/web/20090302215407/http://aacultwatch.co.uk/aboutus.aspx

But we've been told that someone has co-opted our old domain (nothing to do with us.) and is yet again rather tediously claiming to know who's behind it all.... sorry folks.. never heard of them....

But there can be no doubt about who's running the cult down in Plymouth.. Yep it's the space cadet.. Wayne P... Clancy clone, serial 13 stepper, general control freak and all round schmuck.... and here he is again in indulging in his favourite pastime – SELF promotion.... Who knows one of these days he might actually make his way all the way up to Step Three.. But then to be fair … he's not very bright...... It's a bit sad really …. don't you think …..

And as for the Bavaria Intergroup … clearly just as clueless!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous .. and terribly terribly anonymous!)

PS Thanks to our various correspondents

Yiewsley Tuesday 11.30 am (London South Middlesex Intergroup)

Our correspondent writes: 

“Yiewsley Tuesday 11.30am. This used to be a nice quiet little out of the way meeting which met in a small room at the back of a church...... It is now held in a little Chapel of the same church and, although … it would be stretching it to call it a cult, it has definitely gone off the rails. The secretary, and whoever is doing the chair, sits in front of the chapel altar which is decked out with elaborate altar cloths, upon which stand a crucifix and two candlesticks on either side. Against the crucifix is the Big Book and I think the book "Came To Believe" Against the left candlestick is the Serenity Prayer and against the right candlestick is a slogan “AA is a lifestyle not a turnstile” This is not an official AA slogan.. I googled [a well known tax avoidance company] the slogan and came up with this website 

https://sites.google.com/site/thebarnbangor/ 

Other literature is displayed on and around the altar. I have been told that there are now other non AA slogans displayed at this meeting. The meeting is an hour long – but the first 10 minutes or so is taken up with a tedious series of readings – the 3rd step prayer, the 7th Step prayer., the 11th step prayer, a reading from Daily reflections and a reading from the Big Book. There is a stained glass window at the back of the chapel with a representation of Christ. Behind this window is a light bulb and at the secretary's signal the light is switched on and the window is lit up. ”That's the Higher Power up there”, he says firmly. Then the speaker gets to share.. The sharing is mixed but there seems to be a large presence of the “I am a grateful RECOVERED alcoholic” brigade. And they have sponsors who "don't give suggestions" (implying they give orders instead). I was informed that these people used to attend a cult meeting in Harefield. But that meeting is now closed, and now they have come to Yiewsley and brought their slogans and “recovered” status with them. They also attend the Friday night Uxbridge meeting.

There is also a meeting in Ashford on a Friday night which has exactly the same prayer format but with lighted candles for lighting, and no church altar.”

(edits to preserve anonymity)

Comment: Apparently the AA preamble is read out at the beginning of the meeting. We can't think why! Here it is: 

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

They must have forgotten that bit! Easily done... after all this statement is only read out at the beginning of pretty well every AA meeting in Great Britain

(our emphasis)

We're going to take this opportunity to outline our own brand new 'public relations' policy. From now on in ALL cases where a group or even dare we say intergroup eg. Plymouth 'Road to Recovery' cult intergroup shows any signs of going “of the rails” as our correspondent puts it we'll be referring the matter to the relevant part of the service structure eg. intergroup, region, GSO and requesting they take appropriate action under Tradition Four (one of the most misquoted and certainly most misunderstood AA principles). We quote: 

“Four—Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole” (short form)

and 

“4.—With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. Group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount” (long form) 

Source: Alcoholics Anonymous, The AA Tradition 

We would argue that this Tradition places an obligation on groups to take full responsibility for their actions and where they fail to do so the onus falls upon other groups (eg. intergroup, region, AA nationally) to apply any corrective action. To this end written notifications of any breaches will automatically be sent to the relevant intergroup together with copies to the General Service Office in York. In more serious cases involving for example allegations of sexual predation, criminal activity, bullying/harassment etc the Trustees will also be formally notified as well as the police where an offence may have been committed. This will ensure that ignorance cannot be subsequently raised as a defence by those seeking to avoid their responsibilities. Moreover the Yellow card (confidentiality statement) may no longer be relied upon as a cover for collusion or complacency. Full disclosure will apply.

Where an intergroup is involved a request will be made for any response to include an indication of what ACTION has been taken. Where the intergroup fails to do so or indeed fails to respond (which in our experience is more often the case), and after a suitable time has elapsed (no more than two weeks), we will then contact – where appropriate - any relevant public agencies who have dealings with that intergroup eg. health trusts, probation services, treatment centres, landlords (of the property where the meeting is held) etc and update them accordingly. All of these owe a legal duty of care towards their clients and have a legitimate right to be informed of any abuses. We will invite these bodies to contact the intergroup (contact details will be supplied) for an explanation.

By these means we intend to apply pressure to the fellowship to clean up its act! Experience has shown that organisations which are largely self-regulating (or in AA's case virtually unregulated) and secretive will inevitably become corrupt. We intend to do our bit to reverse this process.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent