Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
After a post about Spirituality and Jung's letters to Bill W. I had a look at a very interesting video on YouTube about Jung's experience with Roland H.
But I saw thousands of other videos and comments laboriously declaring AA as a dangerous cult.
On the one hand -- it's YouTube, who cares? Right?
But, on the other hand, what is it that people are so angry about that they feel they need to post endless rants about the Orange Papers and the disease concept and court mandated AA and, ultimately, that AA is a brainwashing cult collecting millions of dollars from it's poor members who have been stripped of all hope.
I believe most of these people are confusing treatment centers with AA.
However, there is some value to listening to the criticism. How am I acting in a meeting? Am I welcoming to the newcomer, putting them at ease? Do I honestly share my experience, strength and hope? Is my group adhering to the Traditions? (in particular Tradition 11, are we attracting rather than promoting?)
Thoughts?
But I saw thousands of other videos and comments laboriously declaring AA as a dangerous cult.
On the one hand -- it's YouTube, who cares? Right?
But, on the other hand, what is it that people are so angry about that they feel they need to post endless rants about the Orange Papers and the disease concept and court mandated AA and, ultimately, that AA is a brainwashing cult collecting millions of dollars from it's poor members who have been stripped of all hope.
I believe most of these people are confusing treatment centers with AA.
However, there is some value to listening to the criticism. How am I acting in a meeting? Am I welcoming to the newcomer, putting them at ease? Do I honestly share my experience, strength and hope? Is my group adhering to the Traditions? (in particular Tradition 11, are we attracting rather than promoting?)
Thoughts?
I thought the repetition was a little weird and "cultish" as well. But once I got that part outta my mind and listened to the words being read over and over, they started making sense.
Some of the members who only speak in BB quotes & cannot translate anything into their own words kinda turn me off and I can totally understand why some people feel that way.
I try to speak from my heart and put things into words that I can understand. I didn't understand a word of that BB until my sponsor helped me, so I can totally see why someone new to recovery would say "WTF?".
Some "old timers" are very off putting by speaking in bb quotes only because it does sound rather robotic in my opinion. I just try to make sense. Doesn't always work, in fact frequently it doesn't, but I try and if even one sentence that I say helps one person to not drink today, that makes me smile. :)
But a explanation, out of personal expeirence
Priceless!!!!
I'll tell you something though- if a type of "brainwashing" can stop the cycle of alcoholism in your life, then what's the beef? It's probably better than drinking yourself to death.
No, I don't believe it's a cult. The obsessive critics have too much time on their hands. And I don't even attend AA! LOL!
I could not agree more -- well put.
http://www.dangerthinice.org/PDF%20Files/mg-05_coopwithcourt.pdf
Wow, I too was from a cult as a child, and also another one as I grew old, it was witha church.
I only know this was the most awesome one I could have gotten into, it taught me to clean up my life, love other people, not steal, lie, "Helpful To Some Hamrful To None"
Also if I didn't have a buck for the basket, not to worry about it!
Debbie
As for people, I think most non-alkies see AA as a good thing. But some people gaotta talk about something. Especially those who head back out there and need to justify why.
When I first came to AA in 1989, I swore up and down it was a cult. I came from a rich black baptist heritage, and the first thing I saw on the walls at FIRSTEP were those 12 steps and traditions. It was nothing more than contempt prior to investigation.
No one could help me those days that was in the church where I came from because they had no idea about recovery. When I told them that I had a problem, they told me to pray about it. That is all they knew to do. I don't hold anything against them it was just lack of knowledge.
Today, I carry the message of recovery and AA to those who are still suffering (in the church pews) just like I did. I thank God for both the church, and the gift of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I am so glad you decided the surefire way to a solid foundation and true happiness. How can you go wrong with Jesus Christ and your AA fellowship as you anchor?
Wayne-
But Andrew, your question about, ".....what is it that people are so angry about that they feel they need to post endless rants...."
I think it's three-fold. I think it is angry people, some who simply don't want to get sober, labelling AA because they want to DRINK, and they want to diss anything that might have them stop.
The second IS the nature of the program. We ARE "brainwashing" which in my terms meant my brain needed to be flushed, flushed and flushed of years of destructive, life threatening thinking, to then have that thinking replaced with something constructive and life-saving. But that's not brainwashing in terms like an actual cult does - such as taking self-determination from people, taking their money, having instituationalised sexual abuse etc.
And thirdly, I am certain there are many mental health clinicians and drug and alcohol clinicians around the world that would pitch that AA is a cult because our model is not their model (eg "Harm Minimisation models that lead alcoholics back to drink and to death.). Some clincians are so invested in their own models that they are threatened by AA and thus, diss the program. Thankful there are also many clinicians in detox and rehab facilities who KNOW that AA and NA mean a much greater likelihood of recovery.
A terrible example of this syndrome in my own family has been my sister-in-law who is a practising psychologist and my brother who was a practising alcoholic and addict his whole life She said that she didn't want my brother to go to AA because it's full of "those type of people", inferring a lesser quality of people. Ironically of course, I was one and am one of "those types of people". lol I don't know if she made that particular connection.
Well sadly, at the time she said that, there WAS a major difference between my brother and me. I was than and am now a SOBER alcoholic and he was a drunk and stoned one. Thankfully now he is in early recovery and that has onyl happened because they recently split up and he's staking his claim to be in AA and NA where he says, he always belonged.
I'm happy to hear that your brother is getting the help he needs.
Thanks for sharing that.