Is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult? If so why are they recommended by the courts?

Question

Is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult? If so why are they recommended by the courts?

Answer 1

It's not a cult

Answer 2

Alcoholics Anonymous as a Cult:

http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult...

What's All This I Hear About Cults?

http://www.morerevealed.com/articles/kir...

(This was written before the second edition of the book, where Bufe changed his mind after death threats)

If it looks like a cult, walks like a cult, talks like a cult, recruits like a cult, brainwashes like a cult, punishes like a cult, and like all cults, pretends it isn't a cult, there is a pretty good chance it's a cult. Bufe`s conclusion that A.A. is not a cult is based on a narrow definition of the word as well as some clear misconceptions about the group's activities, most notably, recruitment and economic exploitation. He states that A.A. does not actively recruit members. This begs the question, "What about required A.A. attendance for drunk drivers--Is A.A. entirely passive in this?--and what about A.A.'s regular ministerial forays into penal institutions where attendance is coerced?" As for economic exploitation of members, one has only to look at the prevalence of forced "rehabilitation" programs across the nation. Although statistically ineffective, these programs are not free, and since insurance companies are increasingly loath to pay for treatment which is both expensive and of dubious value, the coerced participant who is usually given the choice of jail, job loss, or program attendance must often foot the bill out of pocket.

Bufe's book is arguably the best researched, and perhaps the most interesting and readable analysis of A.A. I have encountered, but I disagree with his conclusion that A.A. is not a cult. By definition, he excludes from cult status all but the most bizarre and dangerous organizations, whose tactics include sensory and sleep deprivation, intimidation by physical violence, physical isolation from society, and so forth.(12) Bufe implies that the word "cult" should apply to only such glaringly dangerous organizations as The People's Temple, Synanon, such strange millenarian cults as Elizabeth Claire Prophet's Montana based survivalist Church Universal and Triumphant which has been stockpiling weapons for the "end times" for years, as well as some of the more innocuous hypno-chanting religious movements such as Krishna Consciousness. If one uses such inflexible criteria, insisting that only groups which use the most extreme forms of mind control be included in the definition, the concept loses almost all societal importance since the number of individuals involved is infinitesimal. However, if a slightly less stringent definition is applied, A.A. fits the bill to a tee, considerably larger numbers are involved, and the definition of the word takes on much greater social significance, political significance and, I think, accuracy.

If cults and cult like organizations affected only a very limited number of individuals susceptible to the extreme ideologies of the lunatic fringe, all would be well. A limited number of casualties is certainly acceptable when one examines the numbers compared to the millions of people living in our society.. But when the cult, by using less extreme but equally effective mind control techniques as does Alcoholics Anonymous, succeeds in avoiding criticism and establishes itself as a respected societal institution, ensconced in government and health care to the point that cult participation is routinely coerced by these institutions, the danger to society is clearly greater than that posed by the most extreme groups. The infamous Jonestown incident resulted in about five hundred tragic but statistically insignificant deaths in a far away tropical jungle--The People's Temple tragedy affected a few hundred souls and made good tabloid copy, but A.A. affects millions every day and is never questioned.

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More than 60% of all new members are mandated by courts, government agencies, or employee assistance programs.

Answer 3

its not necessarly a cult but it does resemble one. i was an active AA/NA/CA member for several yrs and looking back now, i can see how most ppl would believe that. we have our own "language", our own meeting spots (secret meeting spots), we dont allow outside contrubitions, we cant go around raving about being in AA/NA/CA. and we cant use it to benefit ourselves in public... so yeah, on that aspect, its a cult.... it will brainwash you and it will have you questioning all your beliefs and second guess all your decisions. im not sure if its the best route to go when trying to recover.

Answer 4

I've attended several AA meetings as part of the requirements of my PSYCH degree, and for my EMT certification, and it was also mandatory to attend AA meetings in Navy bootcamp.

It always struck me that AA participants were a little too protective of those gatherings.

Answer 5

A cult?  No.  It was founded by two Christians, but the only direct acknowledgment is that of needing a "higher power" to help break free from the addiction of alcohol.  There is a recognition that without others to help, it is well nigh impossible to quit drinking.  

Having seen a great many people in different stages of alcoholism, I don't know if I've ever met anyone who has successfully quit long term without the help of AA or a similar organization.  If a cult is defined as an organization requiring devotion to their cause, in which others can help hold you accountable to that cause, then those are qualities of AA.  The courts recognize it is probably the only method available that can actually help a person with their addiction, which is why they mandate it sometimes.

Answer 6

Hi, this is not what i really look like, and i am an alcoholic.  I have been involved in A.A. for one year.  I do not believe it is a cult, because of the traditions.  There are no rules, but suggestions.  No one is in charge, we all serve as best we can.  I read information in the big book of A.A. that changed my life.  

I belive for a real alcoholic, this may be the only program of recovery that can help.  I think the courts see that as well.

Answer 7

No they are not a cult.  It is a self help organization.  The majority attend voluntarily. Why not check out their web site and become better informed

Answer 8

Yes, it is a cult. It should be challenged by anyone who is forced into it by the courts.

No one person is worshipped, except the dead Bill Wilson is placed very high just as many dead cult leaders are.

I was in AA 4 or 5 months in 1991 and here is what I experienced. My sponsor and his sponsor backed by the other members of the group told me I must DO EVERYTHING AA TELLS ME TO OR DIE DRUNK.  I was told to place my will over to AA because I was an alcoholic and not able to make good decisions. My sponsor had me kneel down deny Jesus which at that time I was a Christian not Wiccan and I had to say Christianity did nothing for me and pledge my life to AA.

My sponsor invited me to his apartment where he showed me a very illegal sawed off shot gun, unloaded it ****** it placed it in my face and asked me if that was scary and told me to remember how that looked if I ever stopped doiing what he tells me to and to imigine it loaded.

They force their concept of god on you and you have no free will at all. YES, IT IS A CULT.

They pull the bait and switch one bait and switch tactic is in the beginning they tell you that it is okay to take what you can use and reject the rest, but when they feel you are hooked they tell you that does not work and you must put you life and will into the hands of AA groups.

Long story short, I was finally kicked out of AA by my sponser because her forced the spiritual aspect on me that I went back to church and he yelled at me told me to remember that incident in his apartment with the shot gun and told me to hit the door and not come back until I was willing to leave the church compelety and go AA all the way he also said I would either come back or die drunk within 2 years if I left. That was Fall of 1991 I did binge drink a few months but got sober on my own in Feb 29 1992  and I have been sober ever since and without AA. I also found I was not really an alcoholic.

I have no desire even today to get drunk.

The courts in my opinion are not really aware of the cult behaviour of AA and those that are, are too concerned with free help for people. I say a person is better off in jail than in AA. do not send them to AA but if it is jail or AA jail is better.

BB

Answer 9

Not a cult, simply recognized as the least form of treatment by the courts because it follows a proven step by step plan for recovery. More serious levels of alcohol/drug addiction require intensive inpatient treatment.

Answer 10

They aren't a cult but they do have many cult attributes. The more dedicated members are to AA the better a chance they have of recovering.

Answer 11

Cult is when you have several people worshiping one leader. In the AA there are several ppl talking about their expieriences -it's basicly group therapy. It's a technique used in psychology.It has nothing to do with cult, there isn't a leather, nor a religious background. It's a therapy. That's why it's recomended in courts. It's like sending someone to a shrink when he has a mental problem and that's basically what drinking is.

Answer 12

There are lots of things recommended by the courts, even if they don't work.

Answer 13

After spending 9 years in there, leaving, and then needing to spend months "deprogramming" myself from all the sick nonsense I learned there, I'm quite convinced it's a cult.  

Also interesting....My husband is a psychologist.  I took him to meetings with me for several months.  After I left AA, he told me that although he would never have criticized the group or me for going while I was still a member, he was very relieved that I left.  He said that he had been struck by the groupthink more than anything else, and he was horrified by the treatment of people who dared to voice an alternate opinion.

As to why they are recommended by the courts, I think, quite honestly, it's because they are lazy and don't know any better.