The key to success, what really gets people sober, is a Higher Power. (Oh no! Not G O D...) Yep, that's the key. It's called "the solution" in the book. My personal experience is that it's true.
References to “God,” or specific religious beliefs, are shied away from in the rooms, but AA's promotion of a Higher Power is what has given AA the reputation of it being a cult.
AA is not a cult (it doesn’t meet any of the criteria) but I can see why some people outside the rooms have labeled it as one.
Often, more often than not, alcoholics steep themselves in meetings and kind of disappear from their families and friends while they get sober (that is, if family and friends are still willing to associate with them at that point; many alcoholics have lost all relationships by the time they get to the program).
So I can see why many have labeled the program a cult, but it’s not a cult.
AA is not a cult (it doesn’t meet any of the criteria) but I can see why some people outside the rooms have labeled it as one.
Often, more often than not, alcoholics steep themselves in meetings and kind of disappear from their families and friends while they get sober (that is, if family and friends are still willing to associate with them at that point; many alcoholics have lost all relationships by the time they get to the program).
So I can see why many have labeled the program a cult, but it’s not a cult.
AA leaves the Higher Power up to the alcoholic. Whatever the alcoholic believes is fine—but you have to have to give your life to it if you want to be sober. In a meeting in Sacramento I once heard a guy say, “I don’t care if it’s a grilled cheese sandwich, just get yourself a Higher Power.” That pretty well sums up AA’s position on God.
I tell people that I’m cooperating with God. That’s why I’m sober today, no other reason. But people always say, “Good for you!” as if I was the one that got me well. I know they mean well, but really, I didn’t do squat except put down the bottle and do what God wants.
Nothing gets people sober except for God and The Steps. That’s what the book says and that is exactly what my experience has been. The meetings helped, but they didn’t sober me up. I worked The Steps with a sponsor, but the sponsor didn’t get me sober. The fellowship was helpful to understand the book, but the fellowship did not get me sober. God did that.
Nothing gets people sober except for God and The Steps. That’s what the book says and that is exactly what my experience has been. The meetings helped, but they didn’t sober me up. I worked The Steps with a sponsor, but the sponsor didn’t get me sober. The fellowship was helpful to understand the book, but the fellowship did not get me sober. God did that.