Will argued against my statement that AA was a cult in the following comment:
I disagree with your assessment of AA as a cult. According to your link “Three ideas seem essential to the concept of a cult. One is thinking in terms of us versus them with total alienation from ‘them.’ The second is the intense, though often subtle, indoctrination techniques used to recruit and hold members. The third is the charismatic cult leader.”
In my experience with AA, there was no central figurehead, no emphasis on alienation (although we were encouraged not to hang out with old drinking buddies in bars – duh), and apparently the indoctrination techniques weren’t too effective – I haven’t been to a meeting in years.
I expect there ARE AA groups that fit this description, and they should be driven before the whip as all cults should. But it is a disservice to drunks everywhere to so inappropriately describe AA in general.
Will, I think that in AA, there certainly is doctrine, and their certainly is indoctrination, and that, as a social network, AA can be very exclusive, and exclusionary.
Yes, it does not go as far as other cults or religions. But sponsors often encourage disconnection from people who may be suppressive persons (old drinking buddies, past lovers, even family members) who may encourage or remind the person in recovery of drinking or other substance abuse.
Often a person in AA recovery supplants entire support networks of old friends, family, loved ones and business friends in favor of newer, less reliable friends who run the risk of defaulting and returning to alcohol themselves. Note that I used the word “disconnect” above. To those of us who know a little of Scientiology, this is a term often used by Scientologists in terms of excluding members of Scientology who move away from the religion, or those who may influence current members to move away from the religion themselves. These people are often called suppressive persons or “SP’s”, and when labeled this are henceforth considered direct threats to the religion and its members.
AA does have several figureheads: Bill Wilson and Bob Smith among them (both founders of the organization). AA administrators run their groups in varying ways, and there are even agnostic groups common among AA. But I think that in general AA works very much like a religion. A higher power is necessary, and I hate to say it, but reasonable AA members tend to cherry-pick their way around the original idea of the supernatural and exchange it for the idea of a “higher power”–but this is more often than not meant to be a power that engenders spiritual transcendence, which is at its root a religious idea.
In my experience with AA– you are correct–many AA members find after two or three years in the program, that they do not need to attend daily meetings, or even monthly meetings, in order to stay sober. My opinion of AA has changed a little since this post, but I maintain that AA is very much a religion, and it certainly has “sects” that are very much like operating religions (or “cults”–which are, as far as I’m concerned for the sake of this argument, one in the same)– they require intense, life-changing beliefs and behaviors, they are rife with chants and rituals, and they are incredibly insulated and isolated social networks that locate their lifestyles within supernatural foundations.
This fits the bill for me, and perhaps not you.
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BUT, I do not intend to do a disservice to drunks. I have the utmost regard for alcoholics and other addicts attempting to “take the cure.” I do not drink–I plan, eventually, to drink again–but I used to, and I drank a lot, and found it difficult to stop. I attended an AA meeting with an open mind, and could not take part in their ritual-system (religion), because it seemed unnecessary to me, and I do not find solace or guidance in religion. I respect those in AA’s privacy, so will respect their wish that I do not speak of that meeting outside of the church.
But I will say that a lot of very brave people combat a serious problem in their lives with AA, and I wish them the best of luck with it. Just like with “the golden rule” in Christianity, there are certain nuggets of good ol’ kindness and reason with AA. I just don’t think that a supernatural, god-based organization is necessary to combat such demons, so to speak.
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3 Comments
January 11, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hello!
I’m Davide and I’m Italian. Your site is very interesting and I appreciate it so much. I don’t know if you already know about the “Thinking Blogger Award” that rewards blogs that encourage reflections, afterthoughts… So, I “nominated” you and your blog as “Thinking blogger”, in my weblog. I talk and write in italian language but is the same, you can find what is about at http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/02/thinking-blogger-awards_11.html. My website is http://www.davidedellombra.it, and there you can find the post where I mentioned your blog.
Congratulations. Bye,
Davide
(I’m sorry if my english was bad)
August 8, 2008 at 6:04 am
Yawn, read Infinite Jest.
April 14, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I’ve read parts of Infinite Jest, and a lot of DFW. I’m sorry a single 1,000+ page tedious novel was all you needed re: information on AA. Further: DFW has done some wonderful things in his career, but he has verged on the unreadable in his work frequently.