Toxic Turnover
Toxic Turnover
Is Alcoholics Anonymous a religion? In my personal opinion, yes it is. Not only do I think it is a religion, I think it could possibly be a toxic religion. But before I go into detail about the way I feel about this, I would like to give a little back ground history on A.A.
The best definition of religion I came across is this; A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.
The origins of Alcoholics Anonymous can be traced back to the Oxford Group, a Christian religious
movment. Members of the Oxford Group practiced a formula of self; improvement by improving self inventory, admitting wrongs, making amends, using prayer and meditation, and carrying the message to others.
In the early 1930s Rowland Hazard visited the psychoanalyst, Dr. Carl Jung for help with his alcoholism. Jung determined that Rowland could only find relief through a vital spiritual experience. Jung directed him to the Oxford Group. Rowland later introduced, Edwin Thatcher, who then tried to convince golden boy, stockbroker from Wall street, Bill Wilson to attend a metting at the Oxford group after ruining his carreer due to alcoholism. Not convinced by Edwins story of transformation, but out of hopelessness Bill attendeda meeting with the Oxford Group and gave himself to God. Being an agnostic, this did not seem to work for him. Bill then admitted himself into Towns Hospital for the fourth time within a year. He consumed a drug cocktail his doctor concocted up for the treatment of alcoholism. The drug cocktail was known to cause hallucinations. Bill had a “spiritual awakening” like nothing he had ever experienced before while under the influence of these drugs. After his release from the hospital he attended Oxford Group meetings regularly and never drank again. He now had a mission to save other alcoholics, unfourtunatly he had many failed attempts. But he realized in attempting to keep others sober he was keeping himself sober. He decided to change his approach, taking this new approach to the first meeting with Smith. Smith was the first person Bill helped to sobriety, so with success under their belt, they went on to found Alcoholics Anonymous.
With the all the back ground information I have found on A.A. it all points to a religion based support group. Six out of the twelve steps mention God, or a higher being. They say it doesnt matter what God you believe in, as long as you do believe in a higher power.
This program seems to be very counter; productive to me, they focus on a lot of negative things instead of embracing the positive things. Alcoholics have an unfulfilled craving, and as an outsider looking in it is almost as if the sponsors feed on this. By removing alcohol and replacing it with God. But an addiction is an addiction any way you look