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[bitterross]

51. AA is absolutely a religious program.

I went through rehab and was forced to attend AA meetings and read the Big Book. There is no way anyone who has actually attended the meetings regularly and read the book can say it is not a religious program. Just read the chapter We Agnostics. Listen to the people who speak at the meetings and speaker events. They may tell you that your "higher power" can be anything but the vast majority are talking about the Christian god when they speak of a higher power. I can't recall attending a meeting where someone DIDN'T say Jesus was their higher power - to great acknowledgement and approval from the others. I don't care what words you wrap it in to deny it, it is a religious program. I'd go so far as to say a cult without a cult leader.

The similarities between the way a Christian church and AA works are undeniable. You have someone at a meeting who tells their story of success because they found AA that saved their lives. Then they tell you there is no other way than AA. Others chime in with their stories and reinforce the thought that AA is the only way. Then the offering plate is passed. The 12th step says that once you have a spiritual awaking you must carry the message. You must proselytize.

This is exactly like every Baptist revival I ever attended as a child. You have the person telling you how the found Jesus/God and that saved their lives. Then they tell you the only way to heaven is through accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Then the offering plate is passed. The Christian churches say that once you found Jesus you must carry the message. You must proselytize.

It's the exact same formula.

People need to understand what really works is having a life. Read the books by Gabor Mate and Marc Lewis. What "cures" people is having something to live for. Feeling you are worthwhile and you have a place in the world. Google the research on "Rat Park."

This is what our society is so bad at right now. We value all the wrong things - money, fame and power. We value winning and ensuring by our winning someone else must lose. We have become a very sadistic society. It's not just Trump and his cult of deplorables.

Until we fix the core problems with our society we are not going to make a dent in addiction issues. We're only going to make them worse.