First of all, AA is *not* Christian. It is pagan. You can choose any Higher Power (god) you wish, and then you pray to it to remove your “cravings”. The First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. New AA members are often encouraged to choose inanimate objects or even the group itself (“Group Of Drunks”) as their HP. AA “theology” is incompatible with Christianity, even if many meetings take place in church basements, and even though some members insist it’s Christian.
Secondly, AA is a cult. Of what? Well as with most cults, just look at what they say — it’s the opposite of what they do. For example, a Satanic cult will praise The Father of Light in public, but then exalt Satan (Lucifer) in secret ceremonies. An apocalyptic cult will eschew lust (in preparation for “The End of Times”) and then marry off teenagers to old men. AA will renounce drinking and then its members will go out and get plastered.
That’s right: AA is a drinking club.
What???
Well just look at the published literature: AA does not reduce drinking over no treatment at all, and actually exacerbates it in young people.
But AA is supposed to prevent drinking! Yes but they’re a cult. That’s the point — they do the opposite of what they say. (The hallmark of a cult member is steadfast belief in the tenants of the cult regardless of the objective truth.)
So AA is actually a drinking club, and their purpose is to promote the myth of addiction as cover for their drinking. You must confess this if you want to attend: “I am powerless over alcohol.” If you don’t say this you are not welcome. This is classic brainwashing technique. It turns a healthy (but possibly lonely or drama-starved) normal drinking guy/gal into a full-fledged addict.
Classic brainwashing technique. And your disease will lead inevitably to “jails, institutions or death.” But don’t worry we have the cure. Just choose a Sponsor and follow the Steps…. Expect to relapse about 7 times….
So yes, AA is a brainwashing cult that promotes the Myth of Addiction to justify their relapses (and the ensuing fun/sex/drama/mischief). Of course, the stories in the Big Book depict alcoholics as innocent victims of a disease who get drunk and then go home and play solitaire through their tears. But it’s pure fiction (yes, like the Bible), designed to deflect attention from the simple truth. The founder, Bill Wilson, was a notorious philanderer both before and after his sobriety.
Now of course, some alcoholics are not brainwashed into it. They are just plain old liars. They are easy to spot because they will start their drunkalog with something like “I was a born liar.” And then proceed with the raunchy details of the mischief that ensued from their “uncontrollable cravings to drink.”
Alcoholism is not a disease. It is modern-day demon possession: the religion of the church of Alcoholics Anonymous, a drinking club for cheaters, rogues, and liars one small crisis away from their next “relapse”. Also attending are the “old-timers” who recount an embellished history of their own binge/abstinence play (usually lasting through middle age), and proclaim their eternal gratitude: “I was completely hopeless and AA is the only thing that ever worked for me. It gave me a life I never dreamed possible!” © And finally the life blood of the organization, the newcomers: impressionable court-carders and a mix of the lonely and vulnerable who come in search of companionship and relief of distress, are brainwashed into compulsive drinking and drug use by the cult of powerlessness, and bullied for sex or money. Sponsors uncover and exploit insecurities (“Step Work”), and feed the growing desperation with an impossible promise: “Keep coming back; it works if you work it.” They take bets on who will die first (AA Thirst Games) and tout the high mortality rate of the cult’s members as scientific proof of their disease via the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The survivors of this last group will eventually leave in anger, bitterly criticizing the cult without fully understanding why, and may eventually find their way to deprogramming operations like SMART and SOS.
Don’t believe it? Check out the Meetings Blog. Or go to your local AA meeting and see for yourself!
Ready to confess your fake addiction? Addiction will not end until YOU come clean. Post your drunkalog as a comment below, or send to info@AddictionMyth.com for inclusion in My Fake Addiction.
You sound to be a horribly bitter, damaged human being. I suspect that you have been very badly abused by someone..perhaps an alcoholic. Your descriptions of the type of people who you believe to be hiding out or hanging out in AA come from experience. You have such all consuming rage and anger towards a particular group of people, and an organization that has absolutely nothing to do with your life, comes from some experience. What a hateful, ragefyl person you are. I pray that you may seek and find help for your woundedness.
Well maybe you’re right. I’m certainly not a paragon of mental health or moral virtue. But at least I’m trying to help people and not brainwash them into powerlessness.
Why are you so afraid?
First of all, AA is not supposed to be “Christian”. What ever made you think it was? Nothing in the literature says that AA is a Christian organization. Some meetings may seem more Christian than others. I’m Jewish. It’s OK with me. Secondly – if you hate AA so much don’t go!
Thank you for admitting that AA is not Christian! It is also not Jewish. As a Jew you would know that your god introduced your religion precisely because of the idolatrous and degenerate cults that were popular at the time. The pagans exalted a pantheon of gods, and often demonstrated their loyalty and submission to their chosen god at its sacred temple (i.e. whore house).
Speaking of which, are there any gods to which you submit? Tell me more about this “Alcoholism” thing. What exactly happened happened when the Spirit entered you? You went home and cried into your pillow? Somehow I think not. I think you did something else, and I don’t think your god would be very pleased with your behavior. Which by the way there’s nothing wrong with. Just admit you’re a zealot of a (non-Christian) religious cult/drinking club and stop claiming you have a disease!
What in the hell is wrong with you. Drinking club, you are a real piece of work
OK and how many times did you relapse while attending AA? And are you powerless to alcohol? What is the HP you pray to, to remove the ‘character defects’ that power your ‘cravings’? The answer to these questions would make it clear that you used AA as cover for your drinking. Please post!
You would be wise to understand how satan works through addictions of all kinds. And even wiser to know that GOD can pull you through it. You sound like a very angry and confused person. I pray that you find peace 🙂
Satan makes you drink. That is my point. Thank you.
Clearly, the author of this article has a lot of resentment toward AA and alcoholics, a love of baiting total strangers into a fight, and way too much time on his/her hands. Don’t waste your time trying to reason with him/her, and please, don’t share your story. This is just sad.
Omg…wow! Um, you have obviously never been to an A.A. meeting. SMH at your ignorance. I will pray for you in my meeting tonight where we pray to God.
Been to many, as you can see in the Meetings Blog. And thanks for the prayers, but if I choose to drink I don’t need the help of your various gods to get me in the mood.
Wow if u would really take the time to actually go to a AA mee u would save urself it teaches u to work on urself an quit worrying about everybody eles. Thats wht it teaches u .so get with it bro . It might change ur life it looks like u never gave it a shot maybe u should try it. It works if u work it honestly work it
AA works great for middle age men who’ve grown tired of the hangovers, and for women who enjoy the challenge of a fixer-upper. Otherwise it’s a great place to hang out between ‘relapses’ and make people think you’re trying to ‘get clean’.
If you really want to work on yourself then take responsibility for your choice to drink and stop calling it a disease.
Why are you so angry with A.A.?
I’m not. I’m just amazed at my discovery and want to share it.
I have found through reading peoples comments on the internet that only the most ignorant people make vague claims about such large people as a whole. Some AA’s are liars and closet drinkers but I have meet people that have changed there lives thru AA. Alcoholism is a mental illness like depression or an eating disorder. You can get diabetes from poor eating and be cured from changing your lifestyle. How is that different. The idea is that addicts can feel hopeless and when they meet sober people they might realize that they can stop drinking. Are you an alcoholic? I missed the meeting where I was FORCED to announce myself as an alcoholic and powerless. It is just a proven fact that being honest with yourself if the first step in doing anything positive in your life no matter what the topic. Sounds to me like you should try to be honest with yourself. If you don’t like AA, by all means please don’t go. I look forward to not seeing you there.
Wow, I have never read such drivel in all of my born days! The author needs to do a LOT more research on their subject or maybe this is a really silly joke.
OK I’ll start with you. Please, tell me your story.
Omg. Lol that’s all I have to say. Whatever people choose to do to get over their addiction should be their own business. Your just so sad. Like others I feel sorry for u too. Sad sad human being
My experience has shown me that the author of this blog is ill informed of what AA is and what AA is not. A drinking club? That’s not what I’ve found to be true. To me, it really doesn’t matter what the author thinks of AA. They must have a deep seeded resentment no doubt!
I’m leaving this post to let others, who are still suffering, know that AA has worked for me and will work for you too if you go about it with 1/2 the zeal you do for drinking.
That’s right. When you get tired of getting drunk and hitting on chicks at bars, you can go to AA and hit on the chicks there. And then when you get tired of that you can go back to the bars. This can go on for years. Just go to your local AA meeting and learn all about it!
Crazy and stupid all rolled up into one big ball of ignorance. You really should go find yourself a clue!!!
Well if you weren’t hitting on chicks what exactly were you doing at the meetings? Or did you prefer to play it straight and hang out with the gay boys?
I go to meetings to study the book, listen to other people’s experience, strength and hope and to gain knowledge on how to overcome my disease and work through the steps. I’ve never once had anyone hit on me or say anything sexual to me. If that’s why you go to meetings then you’re going for the wrong reasons.
I REALLY LIKED EMMA’S COMMENT ON NOVEMBER 3RD..
WHY IS HER COMMENT THE ONLY COMMENT ON THIS THREAD THAT ADMIN HASNT DARED REPLY TO? HE COMPLETELY IGNORED ALL OF THE THOUGHTFUL AND INSIGHTFUL THINGS SHE TOOK THE TME OUT OF HER DAY (OR NIGHT) TO WRITE TO ADMIN. SHE ALSO HAD THE MOST TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE….
I AGREE 100 PERCENT WITH EMMAS COMMENT AND VOTE ADMIN AND THIS WEBSITE TO BE ERADICATED. WHO’S WITH ME?
Oh honey sorry I haven’t been checking the web site. Been so busy lately.
But surely there are easier ways to get my attention? How’s the detox going?
This yo-yo is busy building his story. Let him suffer. Remember: It’s only when the pain exceeds the pleasure will we stop screwing a porkipine.
Not going to waste my time.
Wow.. You are a real asshole and id most likely shoot you…
Yeah, he or she is an asshole, but BLESS THEIR HEART. Shooting them could not be worse than what it would be like to BE the person who wrote this. Ive been sober 21 years in Alcoholics Anonymous, and I buried my dad and my husband, while I was sober, because of this disease. I almost lost my 20 year old son as well, but when he was finally ready, HE KNEW WHERE TO GO FOR HELP. He’ll have a year of sobriety this month because of Alcoholics Anonymous. The bottom line is this, who gives a fuck if AA is pagan? or Christian? or Judaism? or devil worshipping? or Muslim? or Buddhist? or anything else you care to name. Alcoholics Anonymous WORKS. Over one million men and women have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body because of this program. Who cares if it IS a cult? No one’s brain needed washing more than mine. I’m grateful that the person who wrote this inane article has not suffered the terror, bewilderment, frustration and despair that all of us unhappy drinkers experienced. But unfortunately for him or her, this person will also never know the true freedom and happiness that comes with release from active alcoholism, through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and the presence of God, AS WE UNDERSTAND HIM…Don’t shoot ’em, just feel very, very sorry for them
The biggest ‘addicts’ are also the biggest liars and you are no exception. You drank because you wanted to, and the same for your husband, father and son. Why? The answer would be obvious from your drunkalog. Many woman drink to escape responsibility for their family. Often children drink in self-destructive revenge against a parent who provided inadequate love and attention. Or just to honor the “third parent”.
And some people drink because it’s fun and then take a break every once in a while to make people think they’re trying to take more responsibility for their lives. How proud you must be of your son who has just begun his journey on the binge-abstinence gerbil wheel/cult religion of powerlessness called AA. You taught him well.
Have a drink first then you can blame your disease.
What does it matter the reason for someone’s drinking. Some people become addicted and want to stop. For many people AA worked and is still working. You cannot be so stupid that you think all members are lying and secretly drinking. You have won this battle though. I was lured in to reading and responding to your nonsense and have missed most of my evening hunt.
Show me just one person for whom AA ‘works’, and I will show you a liar with a demonstrated history.
Not all members are lying. Some are brainwashed, and will eventually escape the cult if they are lucky. And no they are not secretly drinking. They are publicly drinking. It’s called “relapse”.
AA and NA are spiritual programs. Not religious programs. Here is definitions of “pagan”
ˈ
noun
1.
a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.
1. Pagan
A somewhat vague term derived from the Latin word paganus. Pagan is a term which refers to a variety of different religions ranging from Wicca, to that of ancient Egypt and even Hinduism, among many others. Some Pagans are of no specific religion, but rather are eclectic. In general Pagan religions have more than one deity, or many gods which are aspects of one (an idea similar to that of the Christian trinity). Another quite common feature of Pagan religions are that they tend to be nature oriented. Pagan can also be used as a derogatory word for any non-Judeo/Christian/Islamic religion.
“The religion of the ancient Greeks is a Pagan religion”
2. Pagan
Put basically, any religion with more than one god, otherwise known as polytheism. Usually nature based, but not necessarily in a hippy “flower power” way. The term Pagan is usually applied to the old European pre-Christian religions of the Greeks/Romans, the Germanic tribes (such as the Vikings, Saxons and Danes etc) and the Celtic tribes. Wicca is a more modern blend of Paganism, that includes elements of all the above religions. Pagans can be found in all walks of life, from the Hippies through to Neo-Nazi groups and all in between. This goes to show that there are many forms and beliefs within Paganism.
Anton LaVey’s form of Satanism includes many elements of paganism, almost an anti-Wicca.
Alot of Pagans attempt to hide their religion from their peers as pagans have been persecuted since the early days of Christianity, and as such some tend to have anti-Christian views.
That said, if they are known pagans, most pagans will quite gladly give time to help out people starting out on the pagan path and will talk to non-pagans about their views and beliefs.
Christmas and other Christian holidays are Pagan rip-offs
3. Pagan
Originally from the Latin word paganus which meant countryman.
Today it mostly means someone who is part of a number of religions that comes under the umbrella term of paganism. Usually these religions are nature-based or revere nature or whose religion is tied to nature in some way.
Pagans come from all walks of live be it politics, law enforcement, education or business etc.
4. Pagan
A member of a group professing a polytheistic religion or any religion other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.
The word pagan can also be used to describe a person who has no religion or a hedonist, which is someone who is devoted to or pursues pleasure; especially the pleasures of the senses.
5. pagans
badass motorcycle gang
6. pagan
The term ‘pagan’ comes from the Latin word ‘paganus’ which means, in short, a country man. In contemporary society the word ‘pagan’ is an umbrella term encompassing many polytheistic earth-based religions including Asatru, wicca, druidry and hereditary witchcraft.
7. pagan – idol worshipper. one who declares powerlessness to an inert object.
8. pagan – one who puts their faith in a doorknob or Group Of Drunks
It does work. Im living proof.
Is this person wacko or what. ??? I also am living proof!
You only relapsed what, like 20 times before finding ‘sobriety’? Which amazingly coincided with the age that your wife and children stopped demanding so much attention? Will wonders never cease.
Sorry to burst the bubble you weak willed AA followers but admin is absoluttely right because I am part of alcoholics anonymous and its nothing but a huge dictatorship joke .. you know in ur heart ur betraying jesus who saved u from ur sin if u worship a false god.. second it says “if ur willing to go to any length ur ready to take certain steps” that’s such bullshit so what is aa saying? that I’m not willing to get sober because I won’t do their steps? Can u say through that manipulation tactic? And aa teaches that we are the root of our suffering and that’s what buddhism teaches.. I only go cause I’m court ordered and I’ve been clean for 15months without the steps so it all seems like sublimitable brainwashing structure that will make u prone to relapse because a. You internally accept that ur weak b. ur around a negative environment c. Ur worshipping the devil
AA is not a cult. You don’t join, you don’t pay money and you don’t get together to drink. First of all addictions are real. There is actually a brain defect that contributes to becoming an addict. Also 60% is genetic. This has all been proven by the science and medical community. It does not tell you to worship the devil. It does say “surrender to the God of your own understanding. ” Sure some people may chose a wrong God but not all. And you are not forced to believe in anything. There is a chapter for the atheist. Its sad that you would get on here and discourage people in getting help. If the addict continues in his/her lifestyle they will eventually lose all that’s important to them. Find them and ask them. I go to the meetings so I can say you are wrong about this.
understanding. ” True some may consider
I appreciate your comment. I am grateful for AA and NA.
THe only requirement for AA is a desire to stop drinking
see how long you don’t drink after probation with no steps.
AA works if you follow the simple 12 steps and are Honest with your self and quit trying to play the blame game like making excuses and it is someones elses fault wow……
That’s right. And the best part is, until you’re “honest with yourself”, you can keep on lying that you “just can’t help it.” So get out there and pour yourself a drink and have some fun! Don’t worry this can go on for years. Thanks AA!
GPAA. Meetings every day at 11 AM, 4 PM 6 PM, and 9 PM. 921 West Pioneer, Grand Prairie TX 75051. I usually attend the 9 PM meeting. They are always open meetings. I look foward to meeting you. Sincerly, GP Dave
Research will show that Bill W was at friends home who prayed for him and early AA “literature” was simple stickers on how to attain salvation. Like many organizations that morphed over time Bills saying you must find God was changed to “may you find him” to appease the attackers an non-forgiving and as well perhaps allow those who would not have even tried due to such a powerful belief that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe ( State Constitution of one state calls this belief) was in fact some sort of negative being that just wanted to spoil everyone’s ones fun and being now without taking any alcohol for twenty eight years I do recall thinking just that. I did have the feeling that I was this being and I am in the sense that no none else is in charge of me and my surrounding being. It is not your fault or anyone else what happens to me but the results of that which I create or if that word scares you those things I do in time that have the effect of returning what is invested. Finger pointing and blaming others to point out how perfect you are is erroneous and leads to being subject to the same thing you created for the alleged perpetrator you send the curse or negative energy too. Forgiveness washes away the anger. Next time you feel angry at someone think about it. Do you actually have any evidence the thing they did actually harmed you in the way you are choosing to think it is? Did they plan to go out an make you mad? Are the even aware you exist and perhaps cut you off in traffic not even knowing it? Why jump from the accusatory to the execution stage without any thought at least if you must condemn others from your lofty perch or perfection? That said I will agree with you if you can provide proof of claim that attending AA meetings voluntarily or otherwise has harmed anyone and that you can give me a detailed list of those who attended then planned at the meetings to get together later for a drink later and evidence of this secret club you alledge with first hand knowledge you provide, how many meetings you attended, the number of people who then met up at the bar, detailed reports on their actions and support for you claim so there be some meat to you statement and a serious intent to bring solution and harmony to us all by your claims against these type of meetings.
Also provide proof of claim that your website is not a breeding ground for controversy and creation of negative judgments with no first hand accounts of any particular event involving any named party you know of and that you are not basing your statements on mere opinion and whimsy alone basically amounting to bearing false witness against your brothers in general. Please explain how judging others will not bring the same judgement to you and show evidence that your beliefs cannot also be identified as a cult with a leader just as any other approved government religion. (Supreme court admits they do regulate God but religions that they create and rule over) and that your believed in invisible God of goodness and mercy is any other than someone else believed in higher power of goodness and mercy.
OK thank you for your comment. History will show that Bill Wilson was an occultist follower of William James and Carl Jung, who were definitely not Christian. Bill Wilson was not Christian nor even pretended to be.
Proof that AA is a drinking club is the simple fact that it doesn’t work, compared to not attending at all. This is a scientific fact. No they are not planning their night out with each other (though sometimes they are). They are planning the next ‘relapse’ just like the person who is not seeking treatment. If you don’t believe me then just attend your local AA meeting and see for yourself. The young people obviously are there because they have to be, and the old people are there in the hope of teaching their skillz to the youngins (“Sponsorship”).
How many times did you ‘relapse’ while in AA? If you would post your drunkalog these simple facts would be obvious.
There are many web sites dedicated to exposing the harm of AA. This includes expaa.org and recoveringfromrecovery.com, among many others.
Every time you claim that you have ‘uncontrollable cravings’ you are bearing false witness against yourself!
As for me I am far from perfect, and have my own history of mischief and mistakes. The difference? I don’t blame it on a disease.
I am only trying to stay sober today. Yesterday I stayed sober, so AA is successful for yesterday. Anything beyond that is projecting, and I cannot rely on yesterdays sobriety to help me today. Obviously you had a bad experience in AA, so you feel the need to denigrate. Look honestly at yourself ans stop trying to shoulder the burdens of the world. If you want to hear my story, come to our meetings and I will gladly tell it to you, but, I will not post it for the world to see and use for fodder for thier on exploits!
OK thanks for the invitation. I would love to attend! Please send time and location.
Words fail me. You’re too stupid.
Hey you are the failure! Not AA. Christianity is but one path to a god. Yeah get over it you bigot. 4 years clean and sober. I am a winner.
Addiction is a myth? You, sir are an idiot.
You figured out how to blame your mischief and selfishness on a disease? You, sir are a genius!
Hahahahhahah, oh man. I love self righteous people who think they are the ones armed with logic and facts and we are just weak and delusional. You clearly have access to the Internet, why don’t you use it to actually educate yourself? I personally believe strongly in researching an issue before forming a strong opinion. My research on this topic happens to also involve personal experience which already gives me the upper hand on any ridiculous claim you make. Any one in Alcoholics Anonymous who has working the suggested program based on SPIRITUAL principles and a foundation of helping others is laughing at your website simply because we have actually lived and experienced something that you have only looked at through a tiny peephole. It is actually hilarious to me that you are ranting about something that most likely doesn’t even relate to your life, let alone is a part of it.
For the hell of it, I will on a very basic level, provide my counter argument…
A) I have 4 and a half years sober and have never relapsed. Not once. Not one drink, not one drug, not a tiny slip I decided wasn’t important. I was a hope to die addict who planned to spend the rest of her life drinking and using and I have been sober for over four continuous years. So, you are incorrect. Plenty of people put together multiple years of sobriety without relapse. Yes, there is relapse amongst alcoholics. Do a little reading on mental illness and you will find how low the recovery rate for many other disorders is including (but not limited to) mood disorders such as bipolar I and II, personality disorders such as antisocial and borderline, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. These people have brains that will never be normal without the help of medication, therapy, and other treatments but there is no cure for them. The same goes with addiction. Science has not found a treatment or a cure for alcoholism but has however vouched for the credibility of AA.
B) “Young people obviously are there because they have to be”- I’m 21 and I got sober when I was 16. I did not have to be here. I still do not have to be here. After a sequence of horrible and depressing events, it began to occur to me that there is probably something wrong with drinking and doing drugs even when I know I shouldn’t/I have promised myself I wouldn’t and having pretty much no desire to live. I’m not going to give you the personal details of my alcoholism because they are just that- personal. No one really enjoys telling strangers the details of their unbearable psychological pain and the effects of that, I’m sure you understand. After my introduction to AA, it was up to me whether I wanted to take the suggestions given to me there (SUGGESTIONS, not commands or any other cult-related brainwashing tactics) or go back to the pathetic, miserable existence of surviving rather than living. I chose the suggestions despite everything in me begging for another drink. Once I took the suggestions, my need for the drink began to fade. For a drug addict and alcoholic like me, like most of around here, this is nothing short of a miracle, and I fucking dare someone to look me in the eye and challenge this thing that gave me a life that I firmly believed I would never have. This is a little bit of a sensitive subject because you are basically some random asshole saying to millions of people “Your pain is invalid. Your life’s purpose is invalid. Not only that, but the happiness you have now is also invalid.” A little rude, don’t you think? I’d love to watch you walk up to someone suffering from the horrible anguish of something like bipolar disorder and say “hey, your disease is a joke. why don’t you just snap out of it and feel feelings like the rest of us.”
C) I am actually quite well read on cults. I have studied cult mentality, psychology, and philosophy of religion, actually. When I was introduced to AA, I refused to accept the concepts until I learned as much as I could about them. I did not blindly wander into some room full of cloaked old people offering me Satan and alcohol, which is the bizarre and inaccurate picture you paint. From everything I have read and learned over the years: AA does not meet the requirements to be considered a cult, most importantly because there are no leaders… in cults that’s kind of a big deal, I’m not sure if you’re aware. AA members do not possess a cult mentality and there is no threat or brainwashing to stop people from simply doing as they please whether that is drinking, getting sober, or leaving the meetings all together. The spiritual principles we follow are the core basis of ALL major religions: Being a good person, helping others, embracing life as a beautiful thing and embarking on it with love, compassion and acceptance. And, as I said earlier, addiction is medically and scientifically proven to be a disease, much like any other DSM-V certified mental illness and is also medically and scientifically proven to be related to genetics.
D) Now, those are my feelings (at least the very basic summary of them) on some of the topics you for some odd reason took upon yourself to discuss. This is how I feel about you as a human being: You are ignorant, you are bitter, and you don’t have a fraction of the love in your heart that the people in AA have in theirs. We base our lives around helping and loving others, while you choose to mock and disrespect our design for living. I am also interested in why you keep asking people to post their “drunkalogs” as if you will be the one to judge whether or not our drinking was adequate enough to be considered alcoholic? Once again, SCIENCE HAS PROVEN THIS IS A DISEASE CENTERED IN THE BRAIN. I think it’s really cute that you’re playing doctor on the Internet, but I highly suggest you become educated. Not just for everyone on the Internet that comes across this, but for your sake. It is much nicer to live life when you are not forming opinions based purely on ignorance and judging millions of people for their own personal life choices. More unsettling is the fact that based on all your comments, you seem to be choosing to remain uneducated. That quality in a human being is more disturbing to me than any of this “fake addiction” “AA is a cult” “we are all satan worshippers” bullshit you have going on here. I truly apologize if you have had some horrific experience in AA. I truly apologize if that experience has made you this cold and bitter. I truly apologize that you choose to hate people who probably really care very little about you. The most important lesson I have learned in AA: I am not the center of the universe. I am a small speck. When I think people are doing things to hurt me, they probably aren’t. When I think people are making decisions that have something to do with their opinions of me, they probably aren’t. Most people aren’t wrapped up in everyone else’s lives- they’re wrapped up in their own. I hope that you become a little more interested in bettering your own life (maybe build some real life relationships, pick up a hobby?) rather than picking apart others and thinking that the world really gives a shit. It doesn’t. It keeps moving while you sit at your computer.
Thank you for your response. Addiction has never been proven scientifically (despite your use of all caps). Furthermore, the fact that AA is based on spiritual principles means that it is not a scientific treatment. So I’m not really sure what you think I should get “educated” about.
And yes I have done my research. Here’s what I found: AA doesn’t cure addiction. It creates it. For millions of people. It is a cult religion that idolizes the demon alcohol. It is modern-day demon possession. I’ve also found that “compulsion” to drink is completely fake, even if you were brainwashed at a young age by the pervasive Myth of Addiction. This would be obvious from your drunkalog, which is why I ask you to please post it. Perhaps you drank as a ploy for sympathy. Many women drink to excess in self-destructive revenge against a mother who supplied inadequate love. Then one day they realize how stupid they’re acting and stop drinking right then and there. Well halleluya.
I’ve also learned that men tend to have much longer drinking careers. I suspect you imagine for yourself a future of fixing these broken men. You must love the attention you get at meetings. Perhaps that’s what you mean when you say, “AA works great for me.”
Same for them. When they want your attention they just ‘relapse’ and call you. Or when they want to break up they just relapse and tell you that you threaten their ‘sobriety’ and return to AA for another round with another newly minted alcoholic. This game can go on through late middle age — congrats on being their sober stooge.
And now you lure others into powerlessness and the binge-abstinence lifestyle. “Hi I’m Emma and I’m powerless over alcohol. But I have found Recovery by imagining a god to which I pray daily to remove my uncontrollable cravings. You are powerless too. Admit it! But you never have to drink again. Just follow the Steps. Don’t worry it takes years so if you do drink, it’s not really your fault. I’ll be your sponsor and teach you all about it!”
How many people have you sponsored and has any remained abstinent for any period of time?
You don’t recognize the cult because my dear, you are the cult: the deadly cult of powerlessness/drinking club known as AA. It should be a crime to send an impressionable 16 year-old into that foul mess.
The excess of stupidity we are surrounded by on a daily basis continues to unfold and amaze the majority of the human race while individuals like yourself choose to flaunt their ignorance. Thank goodness for the internet and its ability to give the biggest idiots a chance to share their opinions with the rest of the world. Id go on to explain how no one cure is 100% effective for the whole population as is chemo for cancer or tylenol for a headache but anybody with half a brain knows this. So continue to air your opinions so we the people have something to look forward to.
Your ‘addiction’ was completely fake. You drank to excess as cover for mischief, which would be obvious if you shared your drunkalog. There is no ‘cure’ for ‘addiction’, other than getting too old to play the game, and then going to AA meetings where you ‘discover’ that you were actually ‘alcoholic’, and take on the new role of explaining the binge-abstinence cycle to the newcomers, which they can use in their own mischief/cheating/crimes. Congrats, Bill Wilson would be proud!
Unbeleavable ,
Honestly I dont know if ill ever get entirely right with god but I hope i never drink again atleast im not making it worser
I have the choice until its in me.
Wrong pagan.
I would be dead if it where not for my
Higher Power whom I chose to call GOD.
We in AA do not force others into a religion
due to recovery first Jerk.
OK and now you teach the binge-abstinence cycle to the young people. Congrats! Don’t be afraid to demonstrate if necessary!
I’m unsure what you mean by “binge-abstinence”. I was never a binge drinker, I was a 24hr a day DRUNK! A treatment center got me sober but AA KEPT me sober for 28 continuous years. Not even a sip in between! Anyway do you know or have you researched the success ratio of Alcoholics Anonymous? It’s 100% give that one some deep thought!
@Anonymous.. actually the relapse rate is 90%. NA and AA do not keep records..but a group of researchers in New Zealand posed as addicts and did a longitudinal study observing 500 subjects .
did you recently fall off the turnip truck
No. Well, maybe. Would I know if I did?
I had a ruff time with alcohol. I was in 12 detox houses, had 15 grandmall seizures, jaudice, jail (to sober up) and I could go on and on. AA and the people of AA in Cape Cod, MA turned me around but it wasn’t before I was praying to God to save me. I went to AA, ended up going to college, became a Physcian’s Assistant in Orthopedic Surgery where I worked at the same hospital for 32 years. I am 40 years sober now. Don’t talk to me about God and AA, been there, seen it, and did it (for me) the right way. Never saw anybody in Korea sitting in a foxhole who didn’t believe in a power greater then himself. When one asks for help, it will come. May take some time but He will help.
Thank you for your service. But yes I bet you could go on and on. 40 years is a long time in which to embellish a drunkalog with figments from the Big Book. What’s with the grand mals? They didn’t have benzos back then?
But seriously. No old-old-timer story is complete without a recounting of how as a child they saw their father drop a whiskey bottle and lick the liquor off the floor — hands and knees bloodied by the broken shards. What’s your rendition of this memory? Please submit your drunkalog we’d love to post it.
You sound like an over educated geek who feels left out, probably your whole life; or maybe you “tried” AA, couldn’t get honest with yourself, picked apart AA like a ravenous person who would pick the bones off the last chicken on earth, because you kept relapsing, etc. The list could go on… I don’t have to go any further and defend AA because it really doesn’t need defending. It’s working for me because I started incorporating the Steps of AA into my life, so I could change, because if I didn’t change, I would die. Won’t you try joining a dating site, instead of trying to pick apart something with your bullshit. Get a blowjob, get a life, whatever. People are still people, so quit trying to play God, asshole…
Finally an insightful comment. Thank you! While I can’t really argue with your characterization of me, perhaps that’s what it takes to see the truth about your silly cult. I don’t know if you’re the ‘brainwashed’ or the ‘liar’ but I suspect the latter because they tend to be more outspoken. You were never an alcoholic, and it would be obvious from your drunkalog which I hope you’ll send so I can post in the ‘My Fake Addiction’ section.
I suspect you concealed a long history of affairs of dubious merit under excessive drinking, flirting with AA the entire time, and then finally ‘discovered’ AA in middle age, started doing the Steps, got divorced (“the relationship threatened my sobriety”), and now enjoy practicing the 13th Step on the newcomers dropping in between relapses. To which I can only say: Kudos!
AA seems to help a lot of people. If out of, lets say 10000 alkies, only 1 stays clean for 20 years. The trickle down effect is unmeasureable. That 1 person will save a lot of money, remember little things like how they got home, who they were with, and what they did. Personally, the A.A. program helped me to quit smoking too. I used step six in the A.A. Big Book. It basically about why we choose to put a poison in our bodies. I substituted the word alcohol for nicotine which is a poison. Nicotine is used to kill insects and numerous other things. I haven’t smoked in over 13 years, probably saving an estimated $50,000 or more. Thanks A.A.!
Exactly. You drank for the plausible claim of forgetting who you were with and how you got home. Perfectly understandable — who’d want to remember sex with fat chicks? But those experiences became even more traumatic as you got older (think: old/ugly), and it just wasn’t worth it considering the hangovers. So you went to AA and started calling yourself ‘alcoholic’. No more traumatic sex or painful hangovers (which only get worse after 40). Plus you can teach the kids in the group how to play the abstinence/binge game like you did for years.
AA doesn’t help quit drinking, and it definitely doesn’t help quit smoking. It actually causes both. Just go to your local AA meeting and see for yourself.
Been to a lot of meetings. Never thought I was an alcoholic but used a deferred to get a dui off my record. I was ordered to go. I had some really good times, bowling, late night coffee houses. But it was not aa that inspired me to not drink it was my choice. Had nothing to do with God or any higher power. Simple just chose not to drink. As for my husband ne got so sucked in He became miserable. Oh but only at home! I am sure he would be perfectly happy if he was with those young woman he is saving.
So let me get this right. In AA they choose their own God. But you didnt? You were forced to believe in whatever God you believe in? That must suck. Talk about brainwashing and hypocracy. Get a life stop playing God. Let Him do His job. He does much better than you.
If you want to choose your own god, be my guest. But please don’t expect me to believe that he has the power to cure you of the ‘drinking disease’, especially considering that he can be absolutely anything (or nothing).
The simple fact is, your ‘unbearable cravings’ for alcohol were completely fake — there was no disease to begin with. You’re not an alcoholic. Every drink you took was free choice. You have only brainwashed yourself into this strange pagan religion that requires you to admit powerlessness and then choose a god to restore you. Why? Typically men engage in excessive drinking to escape the wife and kids and prowl for sex. (Nothing wrong with that either, of course, unless you claim your disease made you do it.) There are lots of reasons, as shown on the Treatment tab.
Your addictions are as fake as the gods you invented to cure it.
well spoken , before i stopped allowing alcohol to consume my life i though i was god .
You guys make sense on the fact alot of clean addicts do minipulate alot of things and are very hypocritical, however my original thinking says its ok to lie cheat and steal, it almost killed me literally, I needed brainwashing bad…..AA’s 3rd tradition states “the only requirement for membership was a desire to stop drinking” it does not say you must admit powerlessness over alcohol to become an AA member…..the main fellowship I’ve attended is NA, in they’re text it states “we are not responsible for our dis-ease but we ARE responsible for our recovery so they’re arn’t no justifying screwed up actions because of an illness…..it also states in the NA text “we have NEVER seen a person live the narcotics anonymous program relapse” thank god for recovery without it I wouldn’t exist, the primary purpose of NA is to help others find a better way to live, not promote Christianity, if I wanna study about god I go to church because they’re seperate and not affiliated, If I walk away from “the cult” of recovery is because I don’t want to look at my truth as a person….if ya’ll wanna bash AA go ahead your choice but at least get some understanding on what the program is based on first…
“Desire to stop drinking” without the ability to do so is the same thing as powerless. If you claim this desire at a meeting, you will soon be expected to admit powerlessness anyway. It’s the First Step. You really can’t get around it.
And thanks for acknowledging that addicts are liars, cheaters, and thieves. My point is that the addiction itself is a lie. If you’d only be willing to reveal your history, it would be obvious that drugs were just a tool for your mischief and/or crimes.
And while the NA text says that you can’t use your illness to justify your actions, the fact is that most young people at your meeting are still actively cycling through the binge/abstinence treadmill. They are taught that it is normal to relapse many times.
You are lucky to be part of a cult that forgives you as long as you perform the 12 Steps, but it would be much better if it didn’t exist in the first place. You wouldn’t have been able to get away with your mischief for so long under the cover of ‘addiction’. Or preach the gospel to young people.
Hi
great blog. Would love to talk with you about deprogramming from AA.
Monica
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you like the blog. I’ve also enjoyed your radio program. You provide an important service. (Not sure if you’re aware but I attempted to leave a comment on your site a few weeks ago but it didn’t stick.)
As you know, I believe that all addiction is completely fake. That includes your own, but please don’t take it as an insult. Our entire society is brainwashed. Even I was until recently.
[Monica replied:
I have no addictions
That’s my point
I was brainwashed
No longer brainwashed
I’m free now
I will check my spam box to see if ur comment got caught there
Monica
]
That’s great Monica! I would love to post your story on the “My Fake Addiction” section of my web site.
It is entirely possible that Monica is not alcoholic. Tis said all alcoholics are sick, but not all who are sick are alcoholic.
Tis entirely possible that you’re not either. I will save a spot for you in the “My Fake Addiction” section.
A good post. This reminds me of the addicts I have dealt with in the past, AA was just their excuse to keep getting away with whatever they were currently getting away with. Addicts destroy other people’s lives, then claim THEY are the victims.
Thanks for being my only fan. 🙂
Aye, the rooms are often used by some to hide out or to troll the afflicted. And many on their path to sanity commit terrible acts. We are not perfect nor Saints. A.A. Promotes self responsibility, and reconsiliation.
I read a lot here that shows little understanding of this method of living. And is an excellent example of why annonymity is so important.
Actually, we are taught to take responsibility for our actions. The second sobriety hits, every decision I make is mine. No matter what made me do it, no matter how badly I WANT to be the victim (wouldn’t that be nice), I still have to own up to my shit and take accountability for my actions. That’s just a matter of being a decent human and a functioning member of society. If I wanted to “keep getting away with whatever I was getting away with” (even though I wasn’t getting away with anything, I was just a drunk asshole), then I would just go fucking drink. I stay sober because I don’t want to pretend to be a victim. I stay sober because I want to be a good person and if I’m not, because sometimes I’m not, then I fucking act like an adult and handle it.
Exactly. Not taking responsibility for yourself is called “childhood”. It’s not a disease, even if it lasts until middle age. “Pretending to be a victim” is not a disease either. It’s called “lying”.
Most people in AA cycle in and out of sobriety for years. Congrats you got the hang of it early. I guess you’re just a better person than the rest of us. Or perhaps AA isn’t really teaching responsibility like you think. Perhaps it’s actually teaching powerlessness/demon possession. Which can be treated by following the Steps, but that can take years and often does. And don’t ever get complacent: even if treated successfully, this “cunning and baffling” disease can strike again any time. Especially for people who think they’ve put it behind them. So, I hope you remember to pray to your HP daily. And I hope it doesn’t ever take a vacation.