AA Documentary: Human Face on an Infamous Cult

This post I have prepared in response to an AA Documentary, one which interviews individuals who were involved in the Father of 12-Step programs.

To this day, Alcoholics Anonymous has provided no credible evidence which supports the charge that the program of religion mixed with personal house-cleaning contributes to the long-term sobriety of its members.

The growing number of disaffected members who have left the program because of outrageous infighting, disagreements over uses of member donations, and the dwindling efficacy of a program which does not offer a substantial regimen for living.

Former members have shared with me the appalling arrogance of members who have committed crimes, offended and abused friends and family, but still glory in that they did not drink. Those who struggle with alcohol have what everyone else has -- living problems -- yet they have resorted to a source of comfort which has creates more problems than it eliminates.

A new documentary called "Bill W." upends not only the core tenet of the program, anonymity, but also skewers the notion that its founder, Vermont stalwart William Wilson, lived a complete and calm sober life. The telling lack of naysayers for the program indicates that cult-like hold which the program has promoted for its members, many of whom fearfully avoid contemplating a life without attending a meeting once a week with other alcoholics.

I cannot think of a more damning enterprise than a program which encourages individuals to define themselves by a condition which resists the label of "disease". How many countless numbers of people have simply given up drinking without assistance from twelve steps or sponsor, both of which seem to keep young men and women from prospering in their lives beyond donating their limited time and limiting funds to assisting other "alcoholics."

Will W. indicated that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous was meant to be merely "spiritual kindergarten", when the program runs contrary to many tenets of Classic, Biblical Christianity, as well as other faiths, while promoting some of the most defeating elements of religious Pharisaism, including the notion that a man's time in the program dictates to what extent an individual may share or participate in his recovery or the recovery of other people.

The documentary, because it fails to present the dark side of a teetotaler who was neither totally abstinent nor faithful to the program he created, or to his family or friends, mitigates all the more against the unjustified range of a support for the program.

"Bill W." along with his second-in-command "Dr. Bob" are just sorry attempts at putting a human face on an infamous cult, one that "works if you work it", but which no one really can work.