Thoughts on AA

In case you wondered here are my thoughts on AA:

I think most of the principles in AA are good. I actually like the Big Book (3rd edition) and like the 1st edition even more.The new 4th editon is quite a downgrade from the original 1st editon. I dont however think AA is an organization full of spiritually enlightened beings. I think when you walk into a room of Alcoholics Anonymous you are walking into a room full of very sick (evil) people.

As you can tell by my recent posts regarding AA and homosexuality, I think it has become a somewhat liberal organization over the last 25 years. It has become accepting of things that most truly religious and spiritual people find an anthema to authentic spirituality. Worse, this is in violation of its own traditons, and AA has little ,if any, ability to look at itself and be reformed. It probably wont be.

Although most of the ideas in the older literature are good. Some are not. This whole idea of the disease concept is a false teaching and harmful to the alcoholic. Dr. Bob had the following to say about this:
"Doc dwelt on the idea that this was an illness, but Doc was pretty frank with me.He found that I had enough faith in the Almighty to be fairly frank. He pointed out to me that probably it was more of a MORAL OR SPIRITUAL ILLNESS than it was a physical one."

That I can buy, but not all this nonsense about a disease and genetics that people want you to believe without convincing proof. In my opinion its a smokescreen and false belief for people unwilling to face up to the truth that there is something really wrong with them, not their body.
BTW, I dont think Dr. Bob would be very welcome in many AA meetings today. Certainly the things he said would not be very welcome.

So yes AA has some value in my opinion. If it can help you find sobriety and start you on the spiritual path, God Bless you. In particular , the teaching about resentment and anger found in the fourth step is magnificent. If you can grasp that and apply it to your life, then I think you will be on your way to a Godly and blessed life.You could also get this self-same teaching out of the New Testament.

However, if you make AA your whole life and attend 7 meeting a day and get you r whole identity out of AA, then I dont think thats a good thing.I know there are some truly searching people who get their start in AA and grow beyond it. I think they are pretty rare however.
So there are my thoughts in summary. I dont expect this to be popular or well received by AA'S To a large degree, I dont think Truth is much welcome in AA today.