The 'Ploys of Recovery'!

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old):

“I had the misfortune to be sponsored by David B a number of  years ago.  I fell for the spiel being a somewhat impressionable newcomer.  He was certainly charming enough and could "talk the talk" no end. But show any sign of independent thought, even dare to express your own viewpoint, and you rapidly enough saw the other side of that particular coin.  For someone who preached sponsorship till your ears bled he was notoriously evasive when it came to the subject of his own sponsor.  Turns out he didn't have one which pretty much fits his profile - all image and not much else.  As for other meetings he was pretty open in his contempt for these and only encouraged people to go to them to "spread the word" or rather the  morally defective and emotionally enfeebled version of the programme which was his stock-in-trade.  The guy was even terrified to go to them himself fearful that if he got caught "off his turf" he might be presented with a few home truths by those who had a real recovery under their belts. The guy didn't even get beyond Step 3.  There was only one HP in David B's life and  that was .... guess who!  But it would be dishonest for me to say I learnt nothing from him.  On the contrary he was a teacher beyond parallel when it came to instructing people on how NOT to carry the AA message, how NOT to relate to other members, and he quite definitely didn't have anything that I wanted.  My recovery took place after I had parted company with him and the "Ploys of Recovery". When I heard that he had finally shuffled off apart from a large measure of indifference on my part I was just glad that no one else had to endure his tedious moralising.  Unfortunately what he has spawned is actually worse than the original hence my support for aacultwatch.”

“I too remember David B sitting at the front of the meeting facing the audience in a “commanding” position. I attended the Vision for You group at Eaton Square around the same time as you did. The Vision was a breakaway from the Joys of Recovery. I cannot now remember the exact reason for the breakaway, but I think it had something to do with not responding when people introduce themselves and “keeping the serenity prayer as it was originally written” i.e. not adding “it works if you work it”. This was the so-called “original” format that David B wanted for his group/cult. There was no democracy at that group, the steering committee was controlled by David B through the pyramid sponsorship system. I saw many abuses and lies being told at that group. David B himself did not have a sponsor. He claimed that a man called Frank who lived in America was his sponsor. However after David died some enquiries were made, and the Frank in question turned out to be someone who was drinking and had no idea he was sponsoring anyone. I do know that leading members of the Vision group, including David “the Icon” C, knew about David B’s deception in this matter but chose not to rock the boat or betray their Great Leader. I witnessed David B sack a number of his sponsees who questioned David’s lack of a sponsor. Also, for someone who promoted service to the hilt, he was remarkably inactive himself. Around the time of his death he had not had any service commitment for nigh on 10 years. This from a man who told others they should have at least 2 service commitments. Nor did David ring any newcomers to my knowledge, in spite of demanding that others ring 2 per day! No, David was very much a “do as I say and not as I do” man. He made up arbitrary rules that contradicted AA approved literature. For example one of his edicts ordered that no one should do voluntary work outside AA. In other words if, for example, you wanted to do some voluntary work in a homeless shelter for a few nights per week, or something similar, this was forbidden by David B. Only service work for AA, (or more accurately for David’s cult) was allowed. This contradicts suggestions in the AA Book Living Sober which David clearly had not read. Another rule he made up was that his sponsees/group members were not allowed to work or train as social workers or counselors or religious clergy. Because what they might learn or practice “might contradict AA” (=might contradict David B). This of course goes against AA literature too, and is even described as being an anti-social attitude in the 12x12. It places AA in conflict with wider society. David wanted his sponsee-puppets to be as ignorant and superstitious as possible – much more easy to control that way.

The mantle of ignorance and superstition is now being ably carried on by David C “the Icon”, who now works in the USA as a Catholic iconographer and broadcaster. He is the chief author of 2 websites which have been mentioned in several places in the aacultwatch site and have brought AA into disrepute. The “Handbook to the Big Book” and associated website is one of his masterworks. This ignominious tome contains the instructions for step 4 where the sponsee has to write a detailed account of his sexual exploits including sex with children, animals, bottles etc and sexual positions and fantasies. It is a voyeurs charter. This sick evil garbage has already caused problems in AA in North London, and I recently discovered that the same document is being circulated in Ealing – most likely by Happy Dennis who is a sponsee of David C. Happy Dennis also promotes David C’s website on his “suggestions” card and the “book of Big Book Quotes”. All in breach of AA Traditions of course.

David C "Icon" is never short of an opinion or two, usually conceited, ill-informed, and based upon an extreme fundamentalist version of catholic dogma. His recent broadcasts in the USA for Catholic TV were a set of programs on art where, among other things, he attacks Picasso and rubbishes all modern art while craftily alluding to the “humility” of his own efforts and approach to art. On another show he visits a Museum and goes on to insult some Buddhist and Hindu statues there, saying that they are not fit to grace his home or garden, but assuring us that he will not take a hammer to them and smash them up (how good of him!) Apparently this is because the statues in question do not represent or follow “Catholic faith and truth”. It’s a pity his concern for “truth” didn’t extend to the matter of David B’s imaginary sponsor. David C ("Icon"/"Way of Beauty") is an arrogant elitist opinionated bore and a religious bigot. He scarcely disguises his contempt for eastern religions - "everyone today seems to be a Buddhist" he sneers sarcastically. His somewhat dour personality is as frigid and one-dimensional as the Icons he paints. In spite of his alleged “humility” he is a perverter and subverter of AA in the UK.

As for Happy Dennis, indeed he is a strange man. One does not have to be in his presence for long to realize that something is amiss in the sanity department. He has adopted the practice of “jumping for joy” every time he meets you or talks to you. From a distance it looks comical - like he has bad case of the hiccoughs - as he greets people attending his groups in Ealing. He is wont to ludicrous repetitions and exaggerations for example he will say “I am very very very very very very happy .. and I’m even happier than that” One is left wondering if he is more trying to convince himself of how “happy” he is, than his audience. He also sometimes speaks very rapidly – in the manner of someone suffering from a form a mania. As for his Book of Big Book Quotes, I’m not a legal expert, but I think there is a strong possibility that it breaches copyright as he has taken extensive quotes not just from the main text of the BB but also from the personal stories section and from later editions which are still, I believe, under copyright. When he shares he often misquotes the literature, so it wouldn’t surprise me if his next effort will be to re-write the entire Big Book itself. The man is a self-willed goon. But he has completely polarized and divided the fellowship in the Ealing area, undermining long established local meetings.

These sick narcissistic personalities are damaging and perverting AA in this country and I am glad that there is now a forum and website exposing them and defending AA. Knowledge is power!”

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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A miscellany of cult dogma and hypocrisy!

Did you know...

David B (founder of the cult in London) who constantly exhorted anyone and everyone in earshot to get a sponsor - and “do exactly what your sponsor tells you” – didn't have one himself!

Extracts:

“David B's non existent sponsor, or "The Invisible Man" as I call him. The identity of David's sponsor seemed to change depending on who he was talking to......he just couldn’t find a sponsor in the UK who was sufficiently informed or conversant with the Program to be his sponsor. ( !!!!! ) So, in other words, in all our fair, green and pleasant land there was not one AA member who was good enough to sponsor David. He tried and tried and tried but he just could not find anyone, poor chap! However he did eventually find a man in America called ........, with whom he talked over the phone to from time to time ( or so he claimed). This "......." upon later investigation ( after David's death) turned out to be drinking low alcohol lager and completely unaware of being anyone's sponsor. Yet this individual was good enough for David !! You really couldn’t make it up!

David B …... on cooking with alcohol:

“David B used to invite some sponsees/group members to his flat in Fulham for a meal. It was his practice to cook with alcohol ( using wine in a coq-au-vin recipe for example). He would say that it gave his food "a certain extra something". Well it sure did, because even after 2 1/2 hours of cooking at least 5% of the alcohol is still retained after cooking. I don’t think David was aware of this scientific fact. I wasn't myself until recently. However, in view of the fact that alcoholism is partly a mental obsession, I always thought it was totally inappropriate to present food to recovering alcoholics which had been cooked with alcohol and expect them to eat it as a fait accompli. In other words they were put in a position where it would have been seen as rude to refuse. It is certainly not something I would do myself. I felt David B was playing around with alcohol and with other people's sobriety, which David did without a care to the possible consequences to himself or others.

By the way, here is a link for further information regarding the retention of alcohol after cooking 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooking_with_alcohol

I was surprised myself to learn about this, as I too always thought that cooking boiled off the entire alcohol content. It doesn't.”

Roman Catholicism and the cult:

“The intrusion of Roman Catholic dogma, practice and moral teaching into AA and repackaging it to newcomers as if it were AA. The attendance of David B and his closest circle at the Brompton Oratory Catholic Church in Kensington, and the close and public relationship of David C with the Catholic Church. The importing of Catholicism into AA under the guise of "working the program"....... a young man …. [was] …. sacked by his Vision sponsor after this sponsor had suggested he should consider becoming a Catholic and the young man refused. This young man's experience of AA was completely ruined by this experience and in spite of many attempts to help him and reassure him of the real AA message, he eventually left the fellowship.”

Moreover:

“The promoting and intrusion of highly contentious and controversial opinions on many outside issues and presenting them as AA under the cover of being "spiritual" Including:-

MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MATTERS - Medications for depression and other conditions were frowned upon and newcomers were told to come off medication or they could not proceed with the program. Similarly newcomers were told to discontinue any therapy or counselling. Also David C had highly contentious views on psychology, especially about Sigmund Freud, whom he often derided and rubbished.

RELIGION - David C "the Icon" said that if you wanted to follow a religious faith outside of AA you should select a "Western Faith" i.e. some form of Christianity - and especially Catholicism. The Icon was particularly scathing about Eastern forms of religion, philosophy, meditation and spiritual practice. This prejudice can be clearly seen in his recommended reading list of Helpful Books at the end of the "Companion to the Big Book" document (mostly written by David C), which is completely Christian in outlook and largely Catholic in flavour. Also his patronising and ignorant view about meditation as not being about seeking " altered states of consciousness, out-of-body experiences or the like " - revealed in his "bigbookrecovery" website section on Step 11.

MORALITY - sex before marriage, birth control and abortion - all were forbidden at Vision mirroring the Catholic church's stand on these issues) David C had skilful and lengthy arguments to justify these rules, all of which break AA Traditions

POLITICS AND SOCIETY – [according to] David B …... the best social system that had ever existed was the Feudal System ( !!!!!! ) The Feudal System if you recall from school history lessons, is the medieval social system where the King is the absolute ruler at the top, then come various strata of Lords, Nobles and Barons beneath him, and the poor serfs at the bottom ..... need I say more??

ART AND MUSIC. Modern Art and contemporary music were frowned upon, especially by the "Icon" who said that modern art and rock music were "unspiritual" and self-absorbed. ….... a young musician …. [was] …. told by his Vision sponsor that he could not play in a professional rock band because rock music was "unspiritual" and "against God" and therefore against the program. David C developed a theory which declared that all self-expression in art and music is "wrong" and that all art and music should be for the greater glory of "God". (...and which God should be glorified?? Why, The Icon's God, of course!!)

Misogyny, homophobia and religious apartheid. David B used to say that women were somehow "less able to get the message" than men. He said this as an attempt to rationalise the fact that the Vision group was so dominated by men, especially young men. This male domination is one of the hallmarks of the cult groups, even after David died. [Dave C also subscribed to this view]. Also David B would say the same thing about gay people that they were somehow less capable of accepting his wonderful message (perhaps they were simply as repelled by it as the women were!!). Also there was an incident after David died when a Jewish member of a Vision group was attracted to a young lady who was a Catholic. Dave C "the Icon", then in charge of Vision, advised him to stay clear of this potential relationship because the two faiths were, in his view, "incompatible" and there could be "problems" which could lead to drinking!! I really felt at the time that this would have brought AA into serious disrepute if, say, the media had got a hold of this story. The Jewish man eventually left AA. Who could blame him!

David B made up a rule that each group member should have 2 service commitments. This was in spite of the fact that David himself did not have a single service commitment for 10 years. A clear example of "do what I say and not as I do" (or don't do in David's case). His reasons for not having a service commitment were, he said, on account of his illness. Yet he was well enough to command and control an empire of sponsees that stretched from London to Plymouth, and from Ireland to the USA !! Also all group consciences were effectively controlled by David B through the mechanism of sponsorship and a group Steering committee which he directed. Yet he wasn't able to wash up a single coffee cup on account of "illness". Perhaps the "illness" in question was not the one he thought it was !

David B ruled that recovering alcoholics cannot become social workers, counsellors, therapists or ministers of religion. This is in clear contradiction to what is found in the chapter on Tradition 8 in the 12x12, where such as view is described as "anti-social". His reasons were that there might be a "conflict of obedience" or approach between AA and the organisation employing the AA member as a therapist, priest etc. This is tantamount to saying that AA is incompatible with the real world. The true reason of course was that knowledge and education on spiritual or psychological matters would reveal David B to be the charlatan he was. This was the real "conflict of obedience" - obedience to David and his madness.

David also ruled that no alcoholic can do voluntary work outside 12 step activity. Again contradicting conference approved literature which states clearly ( in the book Living Sober) that such activity is recommended as a possible way of being useful and distracting us from drinking.

Breaking confidences: After David sacked a sponsee. he would tell other members details of that person's life which justified him sacking that person. I felt this was an abuse of trust. Also because of the hierarchical nature of the Vision, private details about sponsees were "passed up the chain of command" if a sponsor felt it was necessary. This happened particularly if the sponsor was relatively new and not fully conversant with all the many rules and regulations practised at Vision.

The horrible cross-sharing and humiliation of visitors and guest speakers at Vision by members of the Cult. This included, on one occasion, the cross-sharing of a man with over 40 years sobriety.

The fierce opposition to any form of regulation regarding personal conduct, How the cult, led then by David C, vehemently opposed a discussion document on Personal Behaviour and Conduct which was circulated around the year 2000 (I cannot now remember the exact year this was circulated). The brouhaha regarding the dismissal of 2 Board members including the London Board Member ("American Mary" ) and how Cult members even considered leaving AA and founding a separate fellowship. Such is their loyalty to AA. “

Comment: Welcome to the cult's fascist agenda!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

The cult (per)version of Step One

Our correspondent writes: 

“David B and Step 1. 

In the 1990's I attended the Vision For You cult group held in Eaton Square, London. This was when David B, founder of the cult movement in the UK, was still alive and holding court with his harem of young male sponsees (not for nothing was he called the Queen of Chelsea, but I digress). One thing I learned was that David B's definition of step one of the AA program was different from what is to be found in AA literature, and totally confusing to newcomers and others. 

David B emphatically said many times that (I quote) “if you don't do everything your sponsor says you do not have step 1.” He taught that “doing what you are told by a sponsor” is what step 1 was all about. Part of that blind obedience was doing 6 or more Daily Suggestions which he had printed out on a small card of similar size to the Just For Today Card. Note: he was making group fellowship depend upon a card he had made up himself without any consultation with other groups or AA as a whole: thus breaking the AA Traditions (Tradition 4 in particular), which still to this day is a continuing source of disunity and confusion within the fellowship. I recall a young man who attended the Visions cult back then who was given the nickname “6 Things” because he always shared he did the so-called 6 things on the Daily Suggestion card every day and that is what he thought kept him sober. One evening he failed to turn up for the regular cult meeting and returning some weeks later he informed us that he had been drinking and the excuse he gave was that he had forgotten to do one of the 6 things. A number of the more experienced members in the meeting smiled when they heard him say that. They smiled because they knew it was a pretty lame excuse of the kind alcoholics make when they really just want to carry on drinking anyway. As it says in the Big Book (page 132) “Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we bust into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past... “ “Mr. 6 Things” stayed sober for a short while longer, then he disappeared altogether. Sadly we heard he was drinking again. It's a shame I cannot remember his real name, just his cult nickname “6 Things”. Clearly this poor confused young man had no idea what AA's step 1 really was, other than the obedience nonsense David B had made up. One of the 6 things was to ring your sponsor every day and do everything he tells you. I'm 100% certain David B didn't do 6 things every day. He didn't have a sponsor, so how could he? So by his own definition he did not have step 1 himself. The irony of that did not seem to dawn on him. However many of his followers eventually woke up to his dishonesty and hypocrisy and left the Visions cult, went into mainstream AA, and grew up. But Mr. 6 Things came to AA and never really heard the true authentic message of Step 1 as described in AA literature where there is no mention of blindly obeying sponsors or following made up suggestion cards. Instead Mr. 6 Things was just another human guinea pig for David B's colossal ego. David B thought he knew better than AA and could concoct his own literature on a whim and dishonestly pass it off as AA to the newcomer. To this day the fraud continues within the cult groups that are descended from his sponsorship. His bad example with regard to breaking the Traditions by composing his own literature is now being copied and continued. The card itself mutates, getting ever more complicated, I saw one recently that had over 20 daily tasks for the newcomer to worry about. No more pretence of “six things”, it was a neurotics charter for imprisoning newcomers in the author's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Not so much relax, take it easy, and easy does it (sayings to be found in the Big Book pages 86 & 135), and, of course “Keep it Simple” - but rather “Make it More Complicated and fret about it”. I feel sorry for newcomers who stumble in on these lawless cult groups. What they are encountering is not AA at all, but a dangerous warped mutation founded upon lies.

I doubt David B had step 1 at all in any real sense. It is known that he invited newcomers and sponsees to have dinner with him at his flat in Chelsea. Guests at these dinners noticed that there was always a bottle of red wine in his kitchen. He freely boasted that he added red wine to his recipes “to give it that extra something” in his words. Well, it certainly gave his dishes something extra - it's called alcohol. It is a scientific fact that in spite of cooking, even for a long time, a significant percentage of alcohol still remains after cooking.......

Alcohol content after cooking – see highlighted column
Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors 

….....Remembering that alcoholism is an illness of physical allergy and mental obsession, one has to consider how a man, who was an alcoholic himself, was not only experimenting with wine in his own food at the very least, but also feeding it to other alcoholics who came to him for help and trusted him. This, combined with his nonsensical and unfounded claims that step 1 was all about obeying sponsors (i.e. him) and doing tasks on a card he made up himself in defiance of AA Tradition and protocol, It seems conclusive to me that not only did he have delusions of grandeur, and was a selfish narcissist who did not truly care at all for the welfare of others (all symptoms of alcoholism), but, as a compulsive alcoholic, what really mattered to him was feeding and playing around with the prime object of his obsession, namely alcohol. And this was the founder of the AA cult movement in the UK.” 

Comment: There is NO safe level of alcohol for an alcoholic .. 100% abstinence is what AA is about ….. So much for the recovery 'experts'!! They'll end up killing you!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent 

See also A new campaign

“The Things They Say” – or should it be “The Lies They Tell

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old)

“Think up your own conception of God, put it on a pedestal, kneel in front of it and ask it for a sober day"... Happy Dennis, Ealing.

This is the idiotic message the "happy one" of Ealing carries to all who have the stomach to listen to him.

Well folks, of course, real AA suggests we do no such thing. Kneeling in front of something that you have made up yourself is little short of narcissism. It is also idolatry.

It is well worth remembering that Happy Dennis (Dennis F.) has a long history of mental illness. I for one have no intention of following made up suggestions from such an individual, none of which are found anywhere in conference approved AA literature.

"You must get a sponsor who has a sponsor" - message carried by various cult groupies in the Ealing area.

Well, if that were the case, AA would never have got off the ground. Bill Wilson didn't have a sponsor who had a sponsor! Nowhere in the Big Book or any other AA book does it say that we must have a sponsor who has a sponsor.

It is interesting to note that the promoters of this non-AA message are descended from the David B line of sponsorship. David B didn't have a sponsor, so the whole house of sponsorship cards falls flat. This particular "sponsorship line" narrative ends in a lie.

What the Big Book and other AA books do suggest however, is that we acquire and develop a faith and trust in a Higher Power of our own understanding. That means of course that we have to reflect upon spiritual matters for ourselves and think about what we are doing, rather than constantly deferring to a human power.

"Don't think! Don't use your brain - it's defective!" - message heard in meetings in Richmond area, no doubt inspired by a sponsor who had a sponsor who was connected to David B who didn't have a sponsor!

AA says - THINK THINK THINK.  (official AA sign)

AA also says - "Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind I will study, I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration."

You can't strengthen your mind if you don't think!

Thinking is discouraged by the cult. Why? Knowledge is power and people who think cant be so easily manipulated and controlled by the cult sponsor. The Truth will set your free.

"My sponsor said he was sober 22 years and had never had a bad day because he always did everything his sponsor said"   - David C Icons.

Well now, when you sponsor yourself I guess you do everything your sponsor says! Lol

"David B tried to find a sponsor in the UK, but just couldn't find anyone who was sufficiently informed or on the program."  -  David C Icons circa 2000 sitting in McDonalds, Victoria, after a Vision meeting sucking on his strawberry milkshake.

OK lets get this straight - he couldn't find a sponsor good enough for him, but he did everything his sponsor said??  That just doesn't add up. Later on David B claimed to be sponsored by a guy named "Frank" in USA. However when this was investigated, the "Frank" in question was drinking and had no idea he was sponsoring anyone. Clearly David B could not be trusted to tell the truth!

David C Icons, however, swallowed David B's porky pies, hook line and sinker.

Dial D for Dumb... or D or Denial... or D for Dishonest. .. take your pick. All three apply.

"People call me God and I think they are afraid of me" - David B (founder of the cult movement in AA in the UK) talking to a Catholic clergyman (and AA member) outside an AA convention in Eastbourne circa the early 1990's.

No comment is needed.”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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PPS For new aacultwatch forum see here. Have your say!

Only ANGRY people 'CROSS-share'!

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old): 

“Hi ….....,

Thanks for that. I have never encountered any Primary Purpose goons. I guess I just dont get to enough meetings! Hmmmm, well, at least not in the Essex area anyway. 

So you were in your first year, made a mistake in a quotation and some smart ass from out of town thought he would humiliate you in front of 60 people, and more or less hold you personally responsible for the alleged decline of AA. And this joker reckoned he was sober and had been restored to sanity ??  lol.  It is good that in spite of him, you persevered and stayed in AA, and that you were able to put it to the back of your mind. 

I can remember being cross-shared in my first year by someone. I can't remember now what exactly I said to merit the honour (probably some nonsense) but, as  I was sharing an American guy shouted at me and said "Keep it simple stupid" . That stopped me in my tracks and I just wilted inside completely. I felt humiliated, and furious at the violation of my "sharing space"  in the meeting. However I now consider I got off lightly. A few years ago a sponsee/friend of mine visited Alaska, USA. He attended a meeting in a remote town on the Northern Slope and what he experienced there chilled me as he was telling me about it. He was asked to speak at the podium during a large late Saturday night meeting. While he was sharing he was both applauded, cheered, ignored, cat-whistled, booed, laughed at, insulted and heckled. He said the meeting was like an AA version of the Jerry Springer show. The experience really shocked him at first. Luckily he was sober a good while and generally good humoured too, and he was able to see the funny side of it all. But I do feel sorry for any newcomers in THAT part of the world. I guess you need to have really thick skin to survive there, as well as a bear skin to keep warm! 

I, of course, have been guilty of cross-sharing others myself.  This happened  mainly when I was part of the Vision cult. After I left the wretched cult, I have fortunately been able to make amends to (some) of my victims. Cross-sharing was a particularly nasty way of abusing and humiliating others who dissented from Vision cult dogma. I witnessed much cross-sharing of "outsiders" or "heretics" who worked the program in a slightly different way to the Vision. The sponsorless  David B, founder of Vision/Joys cult (now deceased),  would openly cross-share people AS THEY WERE ACTUALLY SHARING, interrupting them to put them down. I remember him doing a chair in Sunday Joys of Recovery Step meeting (then held at Lilly Road nr Earls Court), and after he finished he said that if anyone didn't share the message correctly (as he saw it) he would stop them! Sober behaviour?? I think not.

Another thing I experienced at Vision was if anyone in the group openly started to question the ludicrous cult dogmas of the sponsorless David B or his chief henchman David C Icons, the response would be a torrent of cross-sharing from the sponsorless David B, David C Icons and their little gang of mindless robots (sponsees). This cross-sharing was often planned and orchestrated.  For example I recall someone who was somewhat "out of favour" sharing that he did voluntary work outside of AA. David C Icons then came in immediately after saying that  voluntary work outside AA is "not allowed" if you're "working the program correctly" - his sponsor (David B) had told him, so it must be true. (Yes, David C Icons really is as childish as that.)

Well,  evidently David B had not read the AA literature  which clearly states that voluntary work outside AA is suggested, even recommended, in the AA book Living Sober.  But the twisted message of David B always trumped AA's message as far as David C Icons was concerned. Sure enough, the following week David C Icon's sponsees all shared about how not doing voluntary work outside of AA was "against the program". David C Icons had clearly lobbied them into a virtual lynch mob. Thus, the out of favour "heretic" was further humiliated and isolated. Needless to say the guy left the group.  Then, to add insult to injury, David C Icons gleefully seized on the fact that the poor chap had stopped attending the group to further justify his (false) dogma that doing voluntary work outside of AA was "off the program" and instil in others a (false)  fear that doing so could lead to drinking. He even laughed about it. "He has gone. Rejoice!" he told one of his followers. So a picture developed in my mind of a good fellow AA member, trying his best to work the AA program and help others, yet being hurt, isolated, humiliated and rejected by Vision, while David C Icons was laughing away merrily in self-righteous satisfaction. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Certainly not the "will" of my Higher Power, or any other Higher Power that represents goodness, justice and love.”

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS To use “comment” system simply click on the relevant tab below this article and sign in. All comments go through a moderation stage

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A further miscellany (various sources)

“I would like to talk to you about the origins of the Vision cult and its connection with Brompton Oratory and Mother Theresa! David B [founder Visions cult UK] read a lot of Mother Theresa but seems to have got it all garbled. David C "The Icon" [similarly connected] proceeded to import fundamentalist Catholic spiritual discipl[ine] and moral teaching into AA (Vision) and present it to his sponsees and newcomers as being "real AA" when of course it isn’t. By the way the guy called "Derek" who was involved in the North London Intergroup meeting where his meeting was shut down a few years ago ?? His assertion that he didn’t know that the Step 4 material he was distributing came from a non-AA website is a lie. …......David C "Icon" [one of the authors of the website] is his sponsor! He would have known fine [and] well where it [had] come from.”

“I witnessed many regular members leave too, sometimes in the most hostile and acrimonious manner. David B. sacked sponsees for the slightest failure to obey his every whim. Not long before David B died there was another acrimonious split. The Vision meeting at Eaton Square was very well attended and the numbers exceeded the limit for the building fire regulations. Following a group conscience, (which, through sponsorship, David B controlled of course), it was decided that once a certain number of attendees had been reached the door would be closed not allowing any further people to enter. Some people had a problem with this, notably Tony M, one of David B’s chief sponsees. At that time, Tony M was openly disagreeing with David B at the Wednesday night meeting. Other differences developed between the two. Eventually Tony M and his sponsees and some others, broke away from Vision and they formed their own group called "Happy Destiny" which met on Wednesday night in Pimlico.“ [long time defunct]

Ealing:

“According to Dennis relationships are only for the production of children in marriage....so tough if you are too old, don’t want children, gay, or medically infertile.. David C "Icons "is the author of that one. He knows all about relationships - he's never had one in recovery.

This same person has been told by Dennis that the only reason for relationships is to procreate children within marriage. Any other kind of relationship is invalid and a distraction from "being spiritual". There you have it !! I told my friend that statement was about more about AVOIDANCE of relationships than real spiritual growth. Dennis got that nonsense from David C of course.

(our edits)

Comment: Thus the bigots flourish!

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our usual thanks to our correspondents

David B, David C "Icons" and the Catholic Connection

To quote:

“First of all I want to say that, although I am not a Catholic myself, I have no prejudice or issue with the Roman Catholic Church per se. The point of this report is not to denigrate the Catholic Church or debate its teachings, but to expose individuals within the Vision/Joys hierarchy who, having converted to Catholicism, are importing Catholic dogma and moral teachings into AA and presenting and imposing these upon newcomers and sponsees as AA-program in violation of the Traditions and the Preamble of our fellowship. I also wish to say that, as far as I am aware, the Catholic Church is not complicit in the activity of the Vision/Joys cult.

Around the mid-1990’s David B, founder of the Vision cult, began attending the Brompton Oratory, a large Catholic church in Kensington. This church is well known for its ornate Masses said in Latin, and its professional choir, who sing classical church music, and its very conservative Catholic outlook. I understand David B started going to the Oratory after a sponsee of his called John converted to Catholicism and invited him to go to the 11am high mass there. A number of David B’s sponsees began to attend with him also, including David C "Icons" and his sponsees, and after Sunday mass they would all have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Around the same time as this was going on there developed a more judgmental and “Catholic” attitude to moral questions and issues. Sex before marriage was forbidden for David’s sponsees on the grounds that is was supposedly “selfish”. Then suddenly artificial birth control was also outlawed for any of David’s sponsees. This gross interference in personal liberty and conscience was enthusiastically reinforced later by David B’s successor, David C "Icons". David C "Icons" decided that promoting the moral teachings of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, on sexual matters was part of the message of AA. Thus unwary newcomers and sponsees were told, among other things:

1) No masturbation. It’s selfish. It’s a defect. A sin against “purity”, and something to feel guilty about.

2) No use of artificial birth control (contraception). Birth control was seen as a moral evil and "selfish" and encouraging "lust". Sponsees who used birth control were "off the program" and ran the risk of serious disapproval from David C "Icons" and co, not the mention the Pope.

3) No Abortion - abortion was described as "murder" and contrary to the program.

4) No sex outside marriage. Sex outside marriage was not allowed in the group and offenders would lose their sponsor. Thus the life saving message of AA was withdrawn from those who did not go along with this moral dogma.

5) Sex and relationships were only for the production of children within marriage. Homosexuality was frowned upon.

6) Extreme and outdated forms of sexual etiquette. For example; David C "Icons" thought that women should be chaperoned (accompanied by a responsible adult) on their early dates with men. He was uncertain a lady should even be kissed on her first date. Indeed he himself needed to consult his sponsor about this delicate matter when he had a date one evening. (It should be remembered that David C "Icons" was a man in his late 30’s and not a young teenager. This childish level of extreme sponsor dependency may make the reader laugh, but should not be surprising. Obedience to David B and the whole Vision/Joys cult style of sponsor worship definitely tended to infantilize the sponsee for life). Needless to say the lady concerned dumped him.

David C "Icons" also decided that if one was to follow a faith outside of AA, (which the Big Book suggests as a possible way of improving one’s spiritual life (pages 87 & 132) - then that faith should always be a WESTERN one. So, for example, Buddhism, Hinduism etc were strictly speaking not to be encouraged. In fact, people in the fellowship who turned to Buddhism to enrich the spiritual life tended to be mocked by David C "Icons". Only a western Christian faith would be acceptable, and of course, Catholicism was particularly to be favoured and embraced. It is noticeable that sponsees of David C "Icons" have also converted to Catholicism – Jim W for one, co-author of the big book website. And there are many others all the way down the line to the latest influx of recruits to the Vision/Joys cult.

Not long after I left the Vision cult, I was approached by a young man, whom I shall call Mr. C, who asked me to sponsor him. He was a refugee from Vision, his cult sponsor who was one of the Vision hierarchy had “sacked” him and consigned him to the ”outer darkness”. The “outer darkness” was an expression at the Vision cult which referred to the rest of the fellowship. In this case the reason was very interesting. Mr. C had been told by his Vision cult sponsor that he should consider becoming a Catholic. Rightly, Mr. C felt that this was a gross violation of his human rights and freedom of conscience, and this cult sponsor had no right on insisting upon conversion to a particular denomination. According to the AA Preamble, read out at every meeting, AA is not allied to any religious sect or denomination. However the Vision sponsor did not seem to agree with the Preamble. According to the sponsor, Mr. C’s refusal to become a Catholic was due to “a resentment against the institution of the Catholic Church” and he should look at his “defects” regarding this issue, and then pray to have them removed. This is typical Vision/Joys cult tactic. If you don’t agree with what they say, it’s because “you have a resentment”. They are always right (it’s their “humility”, you see!). Mr. C, having prayed a great deal, still did not want to become a Catholic, and so he was “sacked” or “consigned to the outer darkness” (might we even say “excommunicated”!) by the Vision cult sponsor. This incident was interesting because it revealed a tendency at the Vision cult which I had been aware of for some time - and that was the Catholic Connection.

Another incident I recall was when one of David C Icon’s sponsees (called Jim) was sponsoring a man who was Jewish and who wanted to date a Catholic girl. David C "Icons" ruled that this was not to be encouraged, as he had decided mixed religion relationships were not compatible spiritually.

David C "Icons" also produced a “Helpful Books” reading list as part of the Document he wrote called “Companion to the Big Book” – this was an early version of his current big book website. The reading list is interesting because almost all the books suggested for reading are exclusively Catholic. These include the hefty many-volumed Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas, a medieval saint and theologian . David C "Icons" opines that St Thomas was the “biggest brain box ever”. I showed this list of “helpful books” to a friend of mine who happens to be a Catholic priest and he thought it looked like a reading list for someone who was studying for Catholic priesthood or seminary. It is certainly heavily biased in favour of a Catholic viewpoint.

Since all this happened, it would seem that David C "Icons" has become even more extreme, fanatical and bigoted. He has developed the “Way of Beauty” which is a concept inspired by a decree of Pope John-Paul II. David C "Icons" derides and condemns modern art as “selfish” (one of his favourite put downs of anything he doesn’t like or understand); and, indeed, for him, any kind of “self-expression” is regarded almost as a form of heresy. For David C "Icons" only the “Truth” matters. And the “Truth” can only be found within the Catholic religion. The high Art of other cultures may look beautiful, may even be skilfully produced, but it isn’t “True” so at best would only find a place in his back garden, (perhaps by the compost heap, or beside the garden gnomes). Belittling other religions, especially Buddhism (“everyone today is a Buddhist” he sighs sarcastically during one of his American Catholic TV broadcasts) is all part of his prejudice against anything that does not reflect the rigid and rigorous dogmas of his own one true faith. Clearly he isn’t a very secure person.

I don’t think I need comment on the mind-numbing arrogance, fascism, bigotry, selfishness, and sheer infantile idiocy demonstrated by the Vision/Joys cult and its leadership. It is self evident and beyond words. But perhaps I can conclude with some quotes from the literature – the real message of AA.

From the Preamble:

…AA 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.

Tradition 10 (Short form):

Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

Tradition 10 (Long Form):

No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues—particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever.

And perhaps David C "Icons" much vaunted “humility” might extend to apologizing for his misuse and abuse of AA, and for having damaged the chances of recovery of many alcoholics who have, over the years of his influence and activity, been alienated from AA and the AA program by his extreme arrogance, his narcissism and his demagogy. Perhaps he might like to get off his well-worn knees, clean up his AA act, and practice some genuine humility. We won’t hold our breath. “

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

Some more on the 'genealogy' of the cult

“JOYS OF RECOVERY

David B [founder of the Joys of Recovery] sponsored David C [otherwise referred to as 'the Icon' and successor to David B – see website] and Tony M. Tony M left to form the Little Venice Step Meeting on a Monday Night (corner of Shirland Rd and Formosa St). David C went to 'A Vision for You' in Eaton Square and sponsored various people who formed their own meetings. The original 'Vision' meeting closed down because of a lack of people doing service at the meeting (as some attendees were commuting from far afield for the meeting). The attendees left and formed (among others):

EALING (Various);

GUILDFORD MONDAY;

ROCHESTER - THERE IS A SOLUTION MONDAY (the Medway groups and East Kent groups formed from here).

David B also sponsored Wayne P (from Plymouth) who formed various meetings in Plymouth, which in turn has had its own offshoots in Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth and Torquay. A sponsee of Wayne's also set up the 'Road to Recovery' meetings in West London, however they have since parted company and these meetings may have reverted to mainstream AA.

The 'Joys of Recovery' has a number of manifestations (all in differing levels of extremity), including various parts of London, Surrey and Middlesex. It is THESE meetings that use the 'Six Suggestions' or 'Six Point Card', and have been seen (more recently) at Tolworth (Thursday Night), Cambridge (Saturday Night), Victoria (Monday Night - recently closed), Tottenham and a couple of meetings in Northfields, and reportedly a meeting in Chester.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Primary Purpose [originating in Dallas and inspired apparently by Joe McQ and Charlie P's study course] meetings have no connection with David B or the 'Vision' or 'Joys' meetings. As said before these are more related to groups and meetings in America (hence Primary Purpose). These meetings do not use the 'Six Suggestions' or have 'Six Point Cards', but have often used non-conference approved literature (albeit on a separate table). However some of these meetings use certain levels of 'segregation' (with some of these groups having separate meetings after the meeting for men and women). The Purley meetings are the closest linked with these, and have frequently 'imported' speakers from the USA. This is almost certainly the same with Sidcup. As many are aware there is an 'underground' directory of certain Primary Purpose meetings (that may or may not be comprehensive in their eyes).

The meetings that specifically come under this 'Sub-heading' have been previously listed on the website (taken directly from the Primary Purpose Directory).

DESIGN FOR LIVING

This meeting in Wimbledon has no connections with either of the above, and I have reason to believe that there has been some local pressure placed on this meeting - again, this group may or may not have reverted to 'mainstream' AA. I suggest those available look for themselves.”

Comment: Thus the contagion spreads!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(An extract from a contribution sent in by an AA member – our usual thanks extended)

PS See here for more background on the Primary Purpose/Back to Basics movement

I've never had a bad day

My earliest encounters with the Vision cult were in the late 1980's. I occasionally attended a meeting in Collingham Gardens near Earls Court tube. This meeting was called the "Joys of Recovery". I would hesitate to call this meeting a cult. The Vision cult didn't really exist back then - it hadn't fully developed yet. But the "Joys" was certainly a prelude to things yet to come. There was also a meeting at Pont Street in Knightsbridge on a Monday night. David B, founder of the Vision cult, and his band of followers could be found at both these West London meetings. They were a distinctive presence. David would sit at the back of the room chain smoking, surrounded by a coterie of eerily smiling young men, each with a somewhat vacant and far-away expression on his face.

David B was infamous for claiming that he had never had a bad day. "I got sober in 1975 and haven't had a bad day since". he proclaimed robustly. Many were impressed by this outlandish statement, including, I must admit, myself. His confident manner seemed full of conviction and gratitude, and a refreshing change from the "me, myself, and my misery" brigade (as I then called them) that one could hear at some other meetings. I thought those meetings were boring, lack-lustre and uninspirational. Back then I was long on demands and expectations from others, and short on patience, tolerance, love and understanding. I was what is referred to in the AA literature as a "bleeding deacon". I wanted everyone to be "well" according to my definition of well, and my definition of well was that you must always feel happy, and never feel sad. Life was either black or white, never both. This is a false expectation and analysis of course. It lacks humility, understanding and acceptance of the human condition.

Many people found David B to be annoying and dishonest. Whatever one's opinion, he certainly had the knack of grabbing attention. "David says that because he wants to show you how grateful he is" explained a very over-dressed lady at the Joys meeting. "Isn't he simply wondrous, darling" she added. Yes, indeed, there were definitely strong elements of showing off and attention seeking going on at Collingham Gardens in the late 1980's.

In the years since I left Vision, and grew up, I have reflected on this phrase "I have never had a bad day". Of course, our literature, including the Big Book, does not promise us that we will never have a bad day. The Big Book states that we will "know a new freedom and a new happiness". But that is not the same thing as saying that "we will NEVER have a bad day" No one can make such a promise. And thereby lies the issue. NO ONE can make such a promise. Also no one can verify if the person proclaiming to "never have had a bad day" is actually telling the truth. I shared it myself at Vision several times and I know that, deep in my heart, it just didn't feel right. I felt I was pretending in order to impress. I felt I was engaging with a deception. I stopped saying it and felt all the better for not doing so.

My later experience in recovery has left me with the realisation that the hype "I've never had a bad day" is nothing more than a confidence trick and a mechanism for controlling others.

And this is how it works: - You tell me that you have never had a bad day. Now this grabs me, and makes me feel that I am missing out on something. Like all human beings, I sometimes experience fears and insecurities, and this phrase "never had a bad day" seems to highlight my own inadequacy, real or imagined, in the face of your perfection. So I begin to turn to you for comfort and guidance, and, if you are convincing, charming and persistent enough, (and I am weak, uninformed, and unable to resist), I willingly allow you to take over and manage my life so that I can be like you - supposedly never having a bad day. Thus begins my new life of co-dependency upon you. Of course you have to keep telling me that you have never had a bad day or the whole illusion will rapidly evaporate. So, in a way, you are trapped too. And on and on it goes - a seemingly helpless cycle of dependency and control. And all based upon exaggerations, dishonesty, insecurity and attention seeking. And it can go on for years.

If I am lucky the cycle will be broken. Thankfully this happened in my case. I now know that I am just an ordinary bog standard human being and we humans experience good days and bad days. Even the most exalted among us - Queen Elizabeth II for example - is known to have the occasional bad turn. In fact I recall Her Majesty having an entire year of truly awful days in 1992 - her "annus horribilis" as she herself called it. Most people recognise that good days and bad days are part of the normal ebb and flow of life. It is only emotionally immature addicts, who, like spoilt children always looking for self-gratification, need every day to be perfect, and everyone, including themselves, to be flawless. It has been my experience that cult members, and their sponsors, are really no more happy than the rest of us. Within the environment of the cult they have developed a neurotic compulsion to project an image and narrative about themselves in which they must never be seen as anything less than perfect. Cults like Vision harness this pride and delusion, and use it to make members feel good about themselves. Trying to "feel good" by engaging with an illusion is exactly what addiction is all about.

For me real recovery is about moving on from such fantasies and illusions. "The attempt to avoid legitimate suffering lies at the root of all emotional illness" writes Scott Peck, author of "The Road Less Travelled". And the Big Book talks about the "certain trials and low points ahead" (AA page 15 "Bill's Story). "No pain, no gain" as the saying goes, and to a large extent this is true. Of course some pain, like physical pain for example, can be relieved by the services of a good doctor. But emotional pain is not so easy. Emotional pain is not optional. It is part of the natural and unavoidable processes of life.

But emotional pain also nudges me into a sacred task - to love and accept myself; to care for myself; to nurture my recovery, and to be honest and true to what I really believe. Furthermore the AA Program gives me permission to access a Higher Power (or Powers) of MY understanding, and thereby gain strength and wholeness from this unique spiritual and healing relationship.

Cults like Vision don't allow people to grow up and move on. They psychologically trap and imprison people. They marginalise the concept of a healing, loving and liberating Higher Power to the status of an "also ran", or even less. Rather they focus on the false idols of a sponsor and a group. This is part of the reason they are so dangerous and damaging. One of the most poisonous effects of my involvement in Vision was that it distracted and obstructed my relationship and understanding of my own Higher Power. Why bother accessing and getting to know my Higher Power better, when all I need do was ring up a cult sponsor and he would tell me what to do, say, think, feel or even believe. Talk about personal Higher Powers, or God as I understand that term, was certainly not liked at Vision. It was always "my sponsor said this" or "my sponsor said that" or "my sponsor told me to do this". I think the worst one for me was "my sponsor said it doesn't matter who or what my Higher Power is". Well, actually it does matter very much to me! The Big Book clearly says it has to make sense to the newcomer (AA page 93 "Working with Others") and that is should be a Power of my own conception and understanding (page 47) and not a human power (page 60 and pages 99/100). Cult Sponsors who tell their sponsees it doen't really matter what their Higher Power is are presenting themselves as a higher power by default. The Big Book clearly asks us to think carefully about these matters and ask ourselves what spiritual terms really mean to us as individuals.

In my experience cult sponsees become effectively infantilized by their controlling sponsors. Cult sponsors become isolated, narcissistic, grandiose control freaks; emotionally petrified individuals whose chief satisfaction in life is to seek out fully compliant victims for their compulsive need to control. Over time they build up hierarchical groups of regimented clones centered around an unaccountable chief sponsor or guru, and his subordinates. And all this under the cover of "helping others".

These cult sponsors can become arrogant and intolerant in the extreme. I remember a leading member of the Vision cult telling me that he thought intolerance was a good thing. He meant it. He was attempting to justify himself cross-sharing some guy who had shared in a meeting that he was going through a difficult patch. This happened about 10 years ago. I really didn't want what this individual (whom some call the "Icon") had back then, and I want what he has even less now. I actually feel sorry for him. It is truly tragic that someone who came to AA looking for help, was subsequently mesmerized by a sick personality (David B), and ended up so frigid and narrow in outlook, and with all the outward sensitivity and emotional development of a dalek.

Over time some of these cult sponsors can even become abusers and violent bullies. These grossly puffed-up individuals are looked upon as infallible demi-gods in their home groups. Meanwhile, back in the real world, they are committing adultery, or beating up on their girlfriend in private. Or posting puerile insults and libellous lies on internet forums and social network sites. Or within AA they are threatening other AA members who dare to challenge them; or who have the temerity to obstruct their plans of increased empire. Others are prone to temper tantrums and fits of rage. I personally witnessed one of David B's temper tantrums after a group conscience didn't go his way. Read the aacultwatch site for further details of the behaviour of these criminal dry drunk little monsters.

It doesn't have to be that way. Ironically, and happily, my life has been so much better OUTSIDE the cult, and their shallow "I've never have a bad day" cult-speak. In fact I've come across much more balanced and naturally happy people within the mainstream of AA.

Today I try to accept life on life's terms. It really isn't such a big deal for me any more. I don't need to impress anyone. I am free, and I mean REALLY free. I simply stay sober by not picking up a drink one day at a time, I trust my Higher Powers, and I try to live life to the full. Life is not a never changing formula written on a prompt card to be followed rigidly. Life is a constantly changing process of growth, balance and wholeness. It has light and dark. Bright colours and shades of grey. Good and bad. Happy and sad. Heat waves and cold spells. High points and low ebbs. Frivolity and reflection. Good humoured laughter and sorrowful weeping. And much, much more besides !

Enjoy the journey of a free and sober life !

Love and Light to you ! T.S.

aacultwatch forum

(Our usual thanks to this AA member for their contribution)