(DIATRIBE WARNING!)
In the past few days I have come to the conclusion that AA is cult-like.
One of the things cults do is destroy one's ability to think for yourself.
When is the last time someone in a meeting stood up and said, "I believe that
the ego deflation part of this program can be deadly!"
Well I am saying it. I'll be giving the reasons shortly.
There is the the point of "Conference Approved" literature. 
Well when was the last time anyone thought about on the 
"Conference" that approves the literature? Is it some central 
authority that defines for the "Member" what he/she can read 
during one's indoctrination sessions err.. meetings?
When was the last time you or your local representative voted
on a committee?
Is this a form of mind control? Is this approval denoting disapproval
of other things not published by the committee? 
It's beginning to sound like a central authority that I have no 
control over. Now the oral tradition of AA is something altogether
different, they say that they have no central authority, however
if it quacks like a duck etc... so who is this World Service and
what has it done for the member lately?
Well so far the World Service Board of Trustees has wasted at least
7.5 million dollars on a ill ventured Copy write infringement suit
brought against several manufacturers and publishers of "Non Approved"
literature. They went in and LOST.. with your money donated for 
the 7th tradition at each meeting in the world.
Now that line is conjecture, I personally know of no local groups that
have given any money to World Services in a long time... and yet
what about the groups that did?
I know a quite a few meetings could do better things with that
money than wasting it on "frivolous" lawsuits.
Now, did you vote to take the case to court in '93? Oh did not
even know about it... well you are not the only one...
I only heard about the case from a distributor of "Non Approved"
literature. The only reason he knew about it was he was named in the 
lawsuit. Not only was he named in the lawsuit, he was also a
"Member" of AA for 37 years.
Now that's the first time a 501 C(3) Tax Exempt NON Profit Organization
sued one of it's member's for infringing on it's copy write and infringing
on the profits that alleged copy write ownership would bring.
A NON profit suing to recover profits? Don't sound ethical to me...
yet AA world service did it.
That is one illustration what's wrong with AA.
Another is the way the program is written, it demands nothing and in fact
is says so on page 26 of the 12 & 12. Now saying it and DOING it is another
thing altogether.
The society says that the member must be beaten down to "a bottom" in order
to have the mystical "Spiritual Experience" and yet what of those who
see the steps as written a path to ego DEATH and destruction of one's self?
The society says to them "That they have lost true humility and therefore
perspective..." that in and of itself says to the member that you
don't deserve redemption until you think the way we do..
That sounds awfully close to mind control here if not thought control.
That concept coupled with the "outright mental defectives in full flight
from reality..." line from "The Doctor's Opinion" in the other
"Conference Approved" literature denotes that the member is defective
and the only relief is ego deflation and right thinking based on said
"Conference Approved" literature.
I already discussed the so called "Conference" and the ramifications
of the "Cult of Cure" that the meetings denote. It has the 12 Commandments
on the wall that the member must follow in order to be relieved of 
the disease. Now over on the 12_steps echo you will see a post of mine
that sparked this.
But that's not the point here. I personally know of quite a few 
fellow sufferers that the "spiritual angle" will not work with.
The reason is very simple, they have no ego to deflate.
The definition of ego is very simple derived from the latin language
it means "I" that's you and me. Now if a prospective member had some
sense of that more would recover, however we are seeing more and
more survivors of abuse while growing up as well as sexual abuse
survivors who have no sense of self. Now if the hard core AA book
thumpers who work the program AS WRITTEN work with a newcomer
of this ilk the results can be fatal. The very simple reason 
is as follows....
All they know is the names that other's labelled them during 
said abuse and was imprinted or burned into the minds of the
survivors. 
Now the program says very little if not nothing at all on how to 
handle these fragmented personalities. That and the daunting task
of doing it exactly as written will probably put them over the edge
and into oblivion.
Faced with that choice they either become the chronic slippers
or the ones that never put more than 2 years together then
disappear.
On that front AA has failed them because AA fails to adapt to
it's changing membership. 
It fails because it has been proven that "Conference Approved"
literature is horribly outdated in view of the current 
75% or more members that have used drugs in addition to 
the main focus of drinking.
It fails because there are more minorities and women then ever before
and yet the steps as written are tailor made for the upper crust
"off the wagon wall street types" who had a wealthy upbringing
and knew no abuse.
It fails to meet the needs of people who have a dependency on
other people, only to encourage MORE dependency on said
Sponsor and a nameless god (Whom is invariably MALE and christian)
Overall the organization as it stands should be torn down and built
to reflect it's current membership... yet I know how New York
will handle that...
"We have no official viewpoint..." and then drag that member into court...
I know who it happened to...
For reference see "Variety of Religious Experiences" by William James
the chapter entitled "Religion of Healthy Mindedness" to see
where Bill Wilson stole the entire program from...
(Diatribe ended)
Tim...
... Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny. L. Long
--- PPoint 2.00
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