IS AA a religion why does it seek coerced members at courts ? This seems to be a 1st Amendment violation!?

Question

I am researching AA as reilgious organzation and it's involvement in the courts that have been delcared Unconstional AA claims to be a non religious "spiritual " organzation of attraction over promotion. Why then is it using the courts to force people into it(50 %+ of it's members are in some for coecred this does not include those forced by a EAP or employer. ) ALL SEX Offendwers Yes CHILD MOLESTERS MUST attend AA or NA after release, do you want thease giuys in your church basment or metting hall? high shcool gym) ? Often they are not given a choice of jail probation or other assitance with alcohol if a DUI even has a probably many do not they just get caught true drunks know how to avoid roadblock and police detection.
AA gets many offneders out of jailb

Also And its many spin offs are highly confortantional and can led to harm
see
A recent Killing in Chicago is a ancedotel evidence of this
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_211151621.

3to let those who do not know AA has bveen foind by 3 federal courts to be a relgion and losing a job of incacertion is not a choice it is blatently unconstitional . and forcing a person to attened religiouis service they are very often against or are aananthema to thier own belifes .
AA is a relgioun

http://www.law.duke.edu/shell/cite.pl?47+Duke+L.+J.+785
So my positions a very stonge sounds like alot of AAs are in denail about thier religion . Being fied for a job or h jiong a relgion is not a choice any more than going ot jail often ther is not a chooice at all in many courts AA is simply part of the sentace . WhIf pole knew what AA is and could also chose Smart , SOS or proivate therapy that would be a bit better but the state has no bussines telling anyone ot seek medical help read the 4th amentment . or is all you need to knw in the frist 164 pages of the Big Book? . Nope h just trying ot let pole know what AA is. Of offenders all meetings

Thanks tio Raysny
Oh I do not type well nice of you spritual folks to make fun of onthers .
Also I am not I a recover progra nor do i need one . just because some one does not agree with Aa NAt does not mean that are substance abusrs this is a illogical statment and poor debating discusion ability. It shows a one is wrong and does not have a answer of
As Raysny has shown Aa is seen by many federal and state courts to be a relgion it is not a matter of law at all in fact the supream court let stand the 2nd apeals courts decisin much to AAs chagrin that it is a religion .
Also mandated treatment is coming under legal fire .
Oh try readingthe bill of rights n no it is not in the Big book buit google it up .

Answer 1

The New York Court of Appeals, the Second District Court of Appeals, the Third District Court of Appeals, the Seventh District Court of Appeals, and the Tennessee Supreme Court agree that AA is at least "religious in nature" and mandating people is a violation of the Establishment Clause.

As far as those folks who believe that it's the big, bad courts that forcing these unwanted people into AA, they put out a nice little flyer that explains how members should approach judges and the courts to have people sent to the rooms:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_pdfs/mg-05_coopwithcourt.pdf

And it's not just the courts and the EAPs, other government agencies are involved; in my case, in order to receive mental health treatment for depression, I was required to attend a six month halfway house and treatment center, both 12step step based, despite my objections on religious grounds. Anyone who claims AA is "spiritual, not religious" has never truly examined it.

There are at least a dozen Yahoo groups that are anti-AA, anti-coercion, or deal with recovery from 12step groups. If you want to know more contact me.

Answer 2

I apologize if I have not completely understood your question, but honestly, whatever program you used to translate it from your native tounge really isn't very good....try "Babelfish."

AA is not a religious organization according to the law. It is self-funded by members and does not subsist on tax dollars. That courts require/offer it as condition of sentencing is no more a 1st Amendment violation than community service is an 8th Amendment violation.

As for sex offenders and child molesters, if their crime was a result of their addiction, they deserve as much right to recover as those who have killed children while driving drunk. What you and many people seem to ignore is the fact that AA requires personal accountability. It does not protect or coddle criminals. It provides a means by which a criminal may be rehabilitated.

And please, check your emotions at the door and do not make the oft-stated, unsupported statement that "criminals cannot be rehabilitated." I have worked with addicts and convicted felons for years and seen offenders turn their lives around. Also, those that stopped attending AA had a much higher rate of relapse.

It sounds like you're not interested in putting together a balanced picture. But if you're going to do an assassination-piece, dump the 1st Amendment angle...It's untenable.

Answer 3

First it is not the AA that makes the people attend, it is courts, that have seen the great job they have done.

The AA helps 1000's of people and do wonderful work.
People do not have to go to their programs, it is a choice.
There are other help programs along with private couseling programs.

And EAP and employers do not force, they are allowed to take these programs instead of being fired, so it is a choice, they may quit if they want to .

Answer 4

penn n teller bullshi** did a good episode on this very subject. try n find it on demand, youll dig it. as for having child molesters and whatnot else there, yeha htats true, but just look online for ones that are closed- meaning theyre for addicts only- not open to the public.

Answer 5

good question buhhhh-deee