We Know God by Reading His Word, not Confessing our Sins

Returning home we find a place where we can be quiet for an hour, carefully reviewing what we have done. We thank God from the bottom of our heart that we know Him better. (AA, pg 75)

This sentence, following a prospect's working the fifth step, makes no sense.

When an "alcoholic" works the fifth step, he is confessing the exact nature of his wrongs, going over all the terrible things that he has done in his life, terrible things that he must get off his chest or he may end up going back out and drinking again.

How can anyone claim to know God any better by getting all of one's sins off of one's chest? The person has spent the greater part of his time confessing the things that he has done, talking about himself. Earlier in the book, the program reads:

We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning. That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself. (AA, pg 71)

"Big chunks of truth about yourself" -- taking one's inventory focuses on self, not God.

If you really want to know God, read the Bible!

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)

Besides, the plural recognition "We thank God that we know Him better" makes no sense -- everyone of us is called to know God individually and intimately as well as corporately through the Body of Christ.