“The
similarities between the more cult-like versions of AA and the more
extreme versions of evangelical Christianity in the US today are
clear. They have the same attitudes toward the sacred book,
literalists, proof-texting, and refusing to look outside the book.
They both aim for a rigid perfectionism which is destructive
psychologically but can be maintained for a long period. And their
means of recruitment are similar, including seminars, the use of mass
media, etc.
See this
somewhat old but useful treatment of extreme evangelicalism. The
"softer" versions described here, briefly, are more similar
to "traditional" AA, namely the willingness to accept less
than perfection, the believe that we will continue to have problems
in life, the willingness to use outside therapy as an aid.
And:
“Today's
post (April 5) on Primary Purpose brings to mind some thoughts on how the
more cult-like versions of AA manage to shoehorn in pretty much
everything into "directive", or "strong" or "Book
Book" sponsorship.
It comes
in a variety of ways. One is the statement which one hears from them
over here in NYC that "I have only one problem today and that is
alcoholism." So everything is alcoholism. If you are bipolar,
or depressed, or have marital problems, etc. etc., that's all
"alcoholism" really and you should just follow your
sponsor's advice and read the Big Book and that should take care of
it. If it doesn't, then you must be doing something wrong, not
praying enough, not doing enough service, not taking correct 10th
steps. In extreme forms this gets to advising the sponsee to give up
physician-prescribed medications for bipolar disease, or in a weaker
version, not pointing out that some outside therapy might just help
with those childhood sexual abuse issues and the emotional problems
which arise from them.
A more
insidious tack, since it is less easily recognized, is using steps 4
thru 7 to get at the "exact nature of our wrongs" and
remove our "character defects". Here the sponsor tries to
"go deeper", to become an expert on a type of
folk-psychology, which uses the suggestions about anger, resentment,
the seven deadly sins (in the 12 and 12) to get at the "exact
nature" of the sponsees problems. So anger issues arising out of
childhood sexual abuse is brought up in the 5th step? Well, we need
our sponsor's advice on how to handle that? What's your part? Holding
on to it? Well, let go of that anger then, pray about it, etc. The
sponsor becomes an "expert" as opposed to just someone
listening to a step. (Even though the BB says we can do a 5th step
with perfect strangers if they more or less know what we are doing,
or with physicians, or with religious ministers. No experts there on
the 5th step. But that was the early days, the cult-like members may
respond, we've gotten better now.) People suffer needlessly because
they are not directed to real experts who might help them. This
relates to the primary purpose in two ways. One, the cult sponsor can
argue that his dealing with all these psychological issues on the
sponsee are part of the primary purpose, they are part of alcoholism
and they are part of steps 4 thru 6. So everything is now the primary
purpose! Secondly, they argue, it would be a violation of AA
principles to point out that outside help may be necessary for some
of these issues (including perhaps other programs for an over-eater,
etc.) because they cannot advocate for outside entities, that that is
a violation of the primary purpose, which is to talk about the
recovery from alcoholism alone. (Which alcoholism has grown to
include everything wrong with a person and which can be cured by
prayer, 10th steps, service and carrying the message, i.e. "getting
outside yourself" or deflating the ego.)
Now I am
all for spirituality as a help in this, and moral inventories are
good, and pride, ego, anger, resentments are problems. Prayer is
important to me, and I try to use all that, and service to stay on
the AA beam. (As long as service does not rise to taking up my whole
life, but is balanced by outside activities and involvement in non-AA
institutions or groups.) But I also think there are problems other
than alcoholism faced by AA members and we do them a disservice by
claiming to be able to cure them of everything. Expansion of the
notions of "defects of character" and "exact nature of
our wrongs" is a way of really making parts of AA a cult by
closing people off from any outside influence.
Again, it
is like those evangelical Christians, they hold only the Bible is
useful for all problems, and do not seek professional help with
necessary.”
Further:
“I think
my observations on the NYC AA scene might be useful to you. As they
say "Coming soon to a screen near you" if not already there
on the other side of the pond. I am convinced, and I think you guys
alluded to this, that only the intervention of an outside power (and
not HP) will change AA and by that I mean the government via a few
lawsuits where individuals or the fellowship are sued for some sort
of misuse and mistreatment.
I was told
yesterday, I am not sure if this is true, that court-mandated
attendance at AA (which was pretty common in the US) for DUI's and
other problems has been declared unconstitutional by a higher court
in New York State because it violates individuals' freedom of
religion, that is, that it mandated attendance at a religious event,
regardless of AA's distinction between religion and spirtuality. As
far as that court was concerned mentioning God was enough to make it
fall under actions prohibited by the First Amendment.”
Part of
our response:
Hi …...
Some good
points. As you say the term "alcoholism" can be expanded
almost indefinitely to include virtually anything you want. With that
expansion comes a concomitant extension in the area of expertise
possessed by those who pronounce themselves (usually) experts on
recovery. The intrusive nature of sponsorship exemplified by cult
members means they move beyond merely 'sharing their experience,
strength and hope' towards 'treating' other peoples' 'alcoholism'
however they might define it. Therefore they can play the role of
counsellor, psychiatrist, spiritual adviser, health care
professional, marriage guidance counsellor, mentor and general
know-it-all to their heart's content! And all without the bother of
having to study the subject in depth, or even operate within
professional boundaries! Or to put it the AA way: they can't quite
'quit playing God'.....”
Cheers
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS Our
thanks to this contributor
