ALCOHOLISM IS A DISEASE

Best Case Scenario:
If alcoholism can be classified as a disease, then the alcoholic will feel less guilt over some of the kooky things s/he may have done under the influence of alcohol. "It was my disease" they say. Lessening the guilt over past events may provide some relief for the alcoholic, contribute to his/her feelings of well-being and allow him/her to move on with life.

Worst Case Scenario:
The alcoholic sees him/herself as "diseased", an idea that does not promote self-esteem, especially over the long-term. Furthermore, even if some guilt has been eliminated by reclassifying past events under the "it was my disease" umbrella, the lifetime of moral inventories and subsequent pursuit of the ever-elusive "morally pure" condition will add new even-greater quantites of guilt and inadequacy for the alcoholic to contend with.

LET GO & LET GOD

Best Case Scenario:
If the alcoholic is the type who muddled too much in the affairs of others thereby alienating many people that he/she came in contact with, this handy slogan could be a reminder not to be such a busy body.

Worst Case Scenario:
Seeing "God" as the great puppetmaster who pulls all the strings. With this type of thinking, the alcoholic takes the position that it's best to sit back and simply let life "happen". This passive attitude promoted by the AA machine, is one of the reasons that our society is being robbed of some bright, talented and creative individuals who, rather than practicing acceptance, could be working toward positive social change to improve our sick society which produces many of the alcoholics in the first place.

90 MEETINGS IN 90 DAYS, GET AND USE A SPONSOR, STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Best Case Scenario
Halleluia! You are at a low point in your life. Maybe the lowest ever. Good news! There is a place to go which is free of alcohol and full of support. A new set of activites awaits to replace the old destructive set. And you even get your own personal guide - a sponsor - whom you can call day or night for a few kind words as you trudge through the rough spots.

Worst Case Scenario
Heavily immersing a new member into a group, suggesting that they break off ties with friends and/or family and the use of an elder member as a guide are all typical characteristics of cult indoctrination. Many new AA members are so fearful of their old habits and behaviors that they're happy to join ANY organization that will help them to build a new life, even if it walks, talks and smells like a cult. You may ask what's wrong with being in a cult, as long it's keeping the alcoholic sober? I would say a lot! If we only pass through this life once, isn't it a shame to spend that precious life talking incessantly about alcohol, spending one hour per day paying homage to its mighty power? (Sorry, drinking oneself to death versus a lifetime of meetings ARE NOT the only two alternatives! This is an invention of AA!) Leaving the cult, and cutting the AA umbilical cord is extremely difficult for many. Indoctrinated members fear leaving, they fear their own thoughts, they fear independent living, they fear being without the group, they even fear trying to leave the group because of possible relapse, or in case of no relapse, upon return, the member will get a cold shoulder from the group since staying sober without meetings makes the regular attendees look bad. The rooms of AA are jam-packed with fear - quite ironic for an organization that teaches its members to be free of fear. For many, AA had become the only social outlet they have and it's hard to abandon the AA community as our modern world lacks community and people have a need to congregate, as humans are social animals. AA fills this void for many - at the price of conformity to a set of questionable ideas!

GET ON YOUR KNEES

Best Case Scenario
none

Worst Case Scenario
Exit critical thinking, enter religious guilt. What this has to do with staying sober, I haven't a clue. Some say that it was the feelings of guilt and shame CAUSED by religion which contributed to the alcoholism in the first place. If so, then why return to this damning and shaming belief system?

YOUR BEST THINKING GOT YOU HERE

Best Case Scenario
This slogan reminds the alkie that his/her living skills could use some improvement. Perhaps listening to how other sober alkies manage to get through their days without picking up booze would be a good idea.

Worst Case Scenario
This slogan too, is effective in deepening the sense of shame and contributing to low self-esteem. It would be more positive for the alcoholic to say "I knew my life was crap, so I sought help. I'm taking care of myself. Good for me." This attitude is much more affirming and uplifting, but sadly this attitude is frowned upon in the rooms. Taking credit for good things in one's life is considered unspiritual in AA. Instead, postive life changes are seen as the result of working a good program, or as a gift from the big guy upstairs. This reinforces the "man as speck of scum" idea promoted by western religions. (ptooey!) Not to mention, that any teaching which promotes mistrust of one's own mind rings of thought control used by cults.

GET HUMBLE

Best Case Scenario
Pompous jerks getting humble.

Worst Case Scenario
Doormat types getting humble. Unfortunately, many "doormat" types also suffer from the "character defect" of obedience. That is doing what they're told (by authority or the majority) even if it doesn't feel right. This behavior is residue left over from traditional authoritarian child rearing practices. In the case of girls, the effects of growing up in an authoritarian family, when coupled with gender-specific societal messages results in women who lack a strong sense of self and believe that finding or having the right man will solve their identity problems. A strong sense of self is what many alcoholics, especially women, need! Subsequently, "getting humble" or "surrendering the self" is just about the worst message they could be getting!

HAVING SPONSEES

Best Case Scenario
Having sponsees gives AAs with extended sober time an opportunity to be useful and helpful to newer members. The opportunity to sponsor others fills a basic human need to feel useful and good.

Worst Case Scenario
Using sponsees to fill an ego need. Dishing out the same tired AA dogma to the sponsees REGARDLESS of their perdicaments. I've seen AA gurus collect sponsees like trading cards, and then turn around and use their self-proclaimed "high-position" to their advantage in other areas - especially in the areas of sex and dating. An AA guru who creates the illusion of "having the answers" can more easily draw to himself lost & confused newer members who are desperately seeking answers, and turn them into sex partners. These relationships tend to be imbalanced in power and actually work to feed the insatiable ego of the AA guru while fostering the dependence of the newer member. Additionally, indoctrination by an elder member, and the promise of someday being the elder member who indoctrinates others is yet another characteristic of cults. (I know, I know, AA is a goooooood cult.)

YOUR SECRETS WILL KEEP YOU SICK

Best Case Scenario
Internalizing trauma or past shame contributes to the power that incident has over the individual. Talking about these events lessens its hold and diffuses its power, providing relief.

Worst Case Scenario
Sharing personal information with a room full of strangers of a wide variety of backgrounds and personalities, can often result in a troubling group response which can increase the pain felt by that member. Sharing about victimization through rape, molestation or abuse can fire-up the guilt of those members who were rapists, molesters and abusers. Believe me, such individuals are happy as hell that the ol' fifth step has absolved them of their crime, and they DO NOT want to hear the pain that their actions might have caused another. (Even if that's exactly what they should be hearing) A typical way they quiet an AA who is sharing about a painful personal tragedy is by saying "we're here to talk about alcohol". Another way that the above slogan can be misused is by using it to coerce personal information out of a newer member. Don't fool yourself, despite the caveat that "what you hear here should stay here, in the rooms of AA", AA is a huge hotbed of gossip.

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HURT YOU

Best Case Scenario
If I pop the asshole who tells me to do this in the jaw, he will pray for me. I like it when people send me their good wishes.

Worst Case Scenario
This is a nearly impossible emotional feat which sets a surreal goal before the already troubled newcomer. In fact, mastery of this feat is so uncommon that it becomes a newsworthy event when a family who suffered through, let's say, the murder of their child, "adopts" the murderer as their new son or daughter. I call this "Christianity run riot". Many newcomers who were abused turned to alcohol to mask the feelings resulting from abuse, and have never experienced healthy anger and rage at the boundary violation. To tell them to jump to forgiveness without ever having honored themselves by becoming angry at mistreatment will keep them screwed up! Newcomers have enough to worry about without wishing nice things for the people who hurt or abused them.

It is clear that this instruction stems from the Christian idea to "Pray for our Enemies". It's not too hard to figure out who made that up... our enemies of course. The rich needed to think of something which would keep the poor from murdering them.

It's time to get your brain out of hock.