In Alcoholics Anonymous, the seasoned drunks or wannabe superior alcoholics attempt to indoctrinate the "newcomer" into their cult by "suggesting" (coercion) to believe they are powerless over their behaviour. After cleverly, and with acceptable public speaking skills, they also tell the newcomer that if they are to succeed with overcoming a problem with drugs (alcohol is a drug) they need a God or Higher Power to get sober. Self will or using ones brain to change a problematic behaviour is discouraged in AA. Thinking is known in AA as "intellectualizing", and using human thoughts will only lead to using your drug of choice, and trying to expose the AA cult is seen as blasphemy; they hide the Truth.
If the "group think" that is found in the many worldwide Alcoholics Anonymous meetings was used globally to solve social problems, and stop the suffering of millions of people, would their cult doctrine be a success? Are humans as "powerless" as AA suggests?
2006-11-10 06:55:01 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Since 95% of the people who join AA drop out within the first year (AA's Triennial Survey), I say that most don't take "powerlessness" or AA serious enough for it to cause a worldwide social disaster.
Approximately 2/3 of all new AA members are mandated by courts, government agencies, or Employee Assistance Programs, which makes a lie of their tradition of "attraction, rather than promotion".
As long as 19 out of 20, AA is creating far more EX-members than members. And many of those ex-members are speaking out.
2006-11-10 18:15:41 · answer #1 · answered by raysny 7 · 7⤊ 4⤋
Alcoholics Anonymous is not as much of a cult as you are making it out to be. Most of the members are sincerely concerned for the welfare of people struggling with the same problem they had; "Help others, help yourself" is one of the cornerstone of the support group.
"Intellectualization" is the term for the psychological defense mechanism of taking a basic feeling and attatching a complex reasoning level to it that actually has nothing to do with it. For instance, "I want to drink" becomes "I don't have to drink, and I can stop anytime I want, but for now, it would feel good to have a drink."
AA is not a cult, and they do not try to supress their member's free will. They want to help people overcome an addiction that has destroyed and affected countless lives.
2006-11-10 07:06:42 · answer #2 · answered by Trex A 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Sure people are in complete control. They are doing a swell job aren't they. Your average alcoholic will probably lose everything at one time or another and leave a trail of pain everywhere they go. Children and spouses get hurt. The society gets hurt. Some even go as far as being homeless. Yeah, its in their personal control all right.
2006-11-10 07:05:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Maybe.
2006-11-10 07:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋