Do you consider AA and similar 12 step groups to be mini-religions?

Question

If not, what makes them different from religions like Scientology which also promise psychological benefit but strongly, strongly encourage the purchase of their books, etc?

Answer 1

Of course the 12-step movement is a religion. A friend of mine and I made a short video on that very topic at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv-vc4Olj...

AA derives about half its income from the sale of its literature.

Answer 2

No, they are a way to quit drinking by using one's own conscience. You can usually get an AA book for free if you need it.

Answer 3

Absolutely.  AA for example *requires* you to believe in a deity for example.  I don't drink but if I did and was sentenced to attend AA I'd take it all the way to the supreme court if I had to.  Especially since the last time AA released statistics their quit rate at > 3 years was the exact same as people who went cold turkey.  Some effective program there...

Answer 4

I vote you: Question of the Day!!      (Maybe Week?)

I do consider them to be mini-religions. Not even that, but actual religions. I've heard of alcoholics going into AA meetings and coming back messed up Jesus-badder.

They're not any different than Scientology or any other pseudo-religion, just anther attempt at power and control. If you thought you were right wouldn't you want everyone else to think as you do?

Answer 5

answer: the difference from Scientology is that members of A.A (who are anonymous), aren't required to buy the books or follow the "rules" absolutely.  There's also no strict dogma.  If you don't believe in a deity, that's fine, as long as you remain sober/clean.  Scientology requires absolute adherence to one man's views and rules and it requires a lot of money.  

In A.A. you kick in for a cup of coffee and donate to help rent a space.  That's it.

That said: A.A. can become like a religion for some, a substitute addiction for others but it doesn't meet enough requirements to be considered a "cult"

Scientology hits ALL the requirements to be called a "cult"

Answer 6

No, they are rehabilitation strategies. You don't have to believe in Barney, lord of booze to be part of it. Also, they don't always involve purchasing books or merchandise.

Answer 7

AA was founded by a Christian and the God you had to believe in was the God of the Bible.

Somewhere along the line they decided they could help more people if they changed the definition of God to what AA does now.

I've seen many judges send people to AA.

Each time the judge word his order something like this:

"I sentence you to 4 years in the State Prison.  You will begin to serve that sentence today.  Bayliff, put the defendent into custody.  (The guy is put into handcuffs.)   I can't force you to go AA, but if you would voluntarily like to go, I'll suspend your sentence, and you'll have to give proof once a month or once a week to your probation officer that you are actually attending and making progress at AA.  The terms of that probation would be that you cannot drink another drop during the next 15 or 20 years of probation.  If you, you'll serve the entire original 4 years in prison.  Now would you like to volunteer to attend AA?"

I only heard one guy gripe about that offer compaining his constitutional rights were being violated.

That guy was still hollering when they dragged him away.

The judge told him something like this, "You are free to file an appeal of my order, but you'll do it from jail."

There is no charge or cost or fee to attend AA.

If you can afford it you are encourage to give a few bucks each week.

Scientology charges several thousand dollars per class and payment in advance is required.

Unless your name is Tom Cruse, most can't afford it.

Answer 8

"We are by no means a religious organization..."

"Don't get us wrong, this is a very spiritual process..."

AA meeting leaders, during a recruitment meeting in the detention center I was in.

Sooo...sorta lol.

Answer 9

No.

Answer 10

Definition: A form of worship. It includes a system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; these may be personal, or they may be advocated by an organization. Usually religion involves belief in God or in a number of gods; or it treats humans, objects, desires, or forces as objects of worship. Much religion is based on human study of nature; there is also revealed religion. There is true religion and false.

respectfully,

Simone

Answer 11

anything that forces you to admit to a higher power as part of club membership is a religion.  This one just happens to be state enforced...go seperation of church and state...

Answer 12

Cults is more like it .

Answer 13

They help people out of very dark places, they can be religions if they want for all the good they do.

Answer 14

AA are those little batteries I put in my camera.  I don't know about that other stuff.

Answer 15

Hmm...never thought of it in that way, but I must admit that you bring up a strong point, as do some of your answers.

I am a recovering alcoholic, that used AA for the foundation of my recovery.

It's funny, because when I walked into those rooms, I was a "sinful" Christian, and to only discover that I didn't have to be a Christian or any other religion for that matter. That living by the ideals of Christianity was adding to my feelings of low self-worth, and my feelings of failure. Allow me to add that I am not using this answer to bash or put down Christianity, I am only speaking of my experience. I begun to learn that I only had to be True to myself.

Now for me, it wasn't hard to believe in a Higher Power, but for the ones that are Agnostic or Atheist...which I have plenty of friends that are in AA...they weren't encouraged to believe in a Deity, but to just believe in something Greater Than themselves...a tree, a bird, a rock, etc...

You don't have to buy anything, membership is free, people from all walks of life, and religions and lack thereof, attend.

AA was my beginnings in walking away from religion, but I could see how without thoroughly researching AA, some could think that it was like a religion.

Peace!

Edit: Pastor A, I beg to differ...Dr. Bob, was Not a Christian. Matter of fact, he was an advocate of people reading the book...Varieties Of Religious Experience.

Answer 16

AA is a none political, non religious non discrimatory and non anything else you can think of whose sole purpose is to keep an alchoholic away from a drink and supports him in his recovery any way they can. You are 100times more likely to hear sports talk before or after a meeting than talk about Religion.