The christian part is a barrier for atheists and agnostics that would otherwise be OK with participating in Alcoholics Anonymous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alcoholics_Anonymou...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alcoholics_Anonymou...
The "as we understood Him", while most likely still referring to God, is what is used to mean whatever works for you even if it isn't God but something you can believe in as much to help you, which then opens the door for substituting God in the later steps for your version (or not) of him.
My personal opinion is that I find the program a bit cultish and don't agree that telling people they are helpless is the right way to help them, but that's my opinion and I respect that the program works for some people.
I get what you're saying about feeling cult-like. Is it maybe it feels like there are cliques in the room? If so, I imagine if your friend asks to talk to or hang out with those people, they'll more likely than not be open to it. A lot of members don't run right up and hug new people because we don't want to freak them out.
I have shared in meetings that I sometimes think AA/NA is a cult. Everyone understood. And over time I've come to see the importance of the word "Anonymous", which is found in the name (obviously) but also in the traditions, and means exactly this: that everyone is equal within the group. There is no "great leader", nobody that is "right", nobody that is "wrong". It is about sharing one's experience -- the things one has done, the actions one has taken -- which speak for themselves.
> and don't agree that telling people they are helpless is the right way to help them
The actual word is "powerless", not "helpless". And this powerlessness describes:
- the addict's inability to stop despite earnest and sincere desire.
- the inability, once clean for a short time, to keep from returning to drug use
Before I started attending 12-step, I had read the Bible, Marcus Aurelius, Tao Te Ching, various self-help books, The Power of Now, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and on and on and on. I had within me all the beliefs and understanding needed to live in a good way, in accordance with my principles. In short, to live with dignity. And yet I could not live according to my own principles. This wasn't just about drug use...it was about being patient, kind, tolerant, loving, helpful. I think that's the root of the powerlessness talked about in AA/NA. What I've found is that, with the belief in a higher power, I'm able to go to bed with a sense of dignity most days.
As an openly Atheist member of Narcotics Anonymous, with 23 years clean time, I'm here to say Christianity as a barrier to recovery is a matter of personal choice. Yes, I'm an Atheist with a higher power, it's my [G]roup [O]f [D]rug addicts. I kibitz with them about how to stop using, losing the desire to use and finding a new way to live. The Third Tradition of any 12-Step Fellowship clearly says there is only one requirement for membership. In the case of NA, that requirement is a desire to stop using. AA states a desire to stop drinking. They literally cannot kick you out for choosing a secular life. In my experience, anything beyond a brief mention of someone's faith or Atheism is frowned upon, because every addict's choice of a higher power or lack thereof is their own to make.
The principles of the 12-Steps, though adapted from Christian (or Muslim, Hindu, Jewish or you name it, even select Atheist) teachings, they really don't have anything to do with religion at all. They have a lot to do with being human. They are guides that teach people about being honest (particularly with themselves and about their addiction), having an open mind, willingness to change, willingness to amend the wrongs they have committed in the past, being accountable going forward, and participating in selfless service to others inside and outside NA. This is not about virtue; it's about how, for addicts, the opposite of these is a recipe for active addiction.
The thing about addiction is, the ego is a strong force that perpetuates cycles of arrogance and self-righteousness (among potentially many other issues). Using religion as a barrier to recovery is nothing more than an excuse to resume using. And it is certainly not the only addict-contrived excuse to get loaded. There's too many to count; and I have known dozens of people who are now dead as a result of that type of excuse and the using that followed.
The turning point for any addict is coming to terms with the trauma that created the pain they are trying to cover up. That's why honesty is so important; once that pain is out in the open, it can be dealt with and healing can occur. But that's not a simple problem to solve. The route to such clarity varies widely from one addict to another. The 12 Steps create an environment to facilitate revealing such core issues but certain issues may escape detection. Some people will require therapeutic or legal intervention (we call it "Outside Help for Outside Issues") to get "there". Some never get there and white-knuckle it to stay clean. Or kill themselves with something other than drugs.
12-Step programs like NA are NOT highly successful. I think it's about 1 in 10 that make it. Probably even less. Our stats are probably skewed by attendance coerced by the justice system; who knows, there is no science to collecting surveillance in an anonymous program. We even make efforts to let the justice system know that we are not taking attendance or verifying identities of attendees; our 12 Traditions make us resistant to such observation. This isn't the program for people who require those kinds of stats.
What I can say, when I look at the people I got clean with, the people who we hung tight together with and were committed to staying clean no matter what, nearly all of them are still clean. Many of them without relapse (including myself). And so are the serious members who were here when I arrived. Those who told me it was OK if I didn't believe in God, that I just had to be open to the idea that maybe my decision-making skills were prone to creating problems rather than solutions.
NA makes no claims of any performance. It's just a thing some people found that works for those who work it. Those being the members who don't use in-between or at meetings, come on a regular basis, work steps and serve others. Anyone else isn't actually working this program, they're doing something else. We don't insist we're the only way to recovery. We humbly accept this program comes with no guarantees. If other methods work for others, awesome! Go to what works for you, and hopefully that doesn't include a dependency on doctor-prescribed dope.
The religious aspects some people get so self-righteous about I think aren't really as much about religion or god, as they are about the feeling of belonging to something greater and faith in intrinsic good of the world. I assume this is not something everyone lacks, but for those who do, this seemingly religious language is one way to communicate it. Also when people propose ibogaine or LSD, I'd guess the aim of those therapies is a very similar form of healing and effective in similar cases as AA would be, but requiring less commitment from the patient. If you are a psychologically healthy individual and don't perceive the world around you as hostile, then this kind of healing isn't necessary and other options might be far more suitable (or you'll most likely just stop drinking by yourself).
I also think it's a shame people are forced to go to these meetings by the judical system, because I think the system was never intended as such and it probably completely defeats its purpose.
This does not mean that he really believed that.
I had seen several atheist and agnostics go to AA without any problems. When you have a serious problem like this that makes you loose your wife, your kids, your job, you try anything that could get you out.
When you are desperate you try anything, anything, including visiting shamans.
From my point of view the people that have problems with AA will be the hyper rational people that could not test something without knowing why they are doing that.
The problem is that when you are under the influence of drugs, your mind is not really free to think, but is strongly biased(cognition bias), so what looks from inside like common sense is not objectively. You can rationalize anything.
What the AA method does is you accepting that the solution is outside you, accepting external influence without judging. This is a necessary step, at least while the influence is very strong.