Is Alcoholics Anonymous A Cult? A Biblical Perspective Of The 12 Steps
Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
A number of people have asked me through the years whether Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a cult. In general, this question applies to most 12 Step programs. Some of the reasons why people express concern about AA and other 12 Step recovery groups is because they encourage a belief in an ambiguous "Higher Power".
Technically, AA and other 12 Step programs could be classified as cults. However, the issue is a little more complex than we may initially believe. So, before we render judgment upon AA and other 12 Step programs let's take a moment to look at the pros and cons.
There are a number of characteristics that can be used to identify or classify an organization as a cult. Generally, however, a cult is a religious organization that deviates from the mainstream. When Christianity began it was considered to be a cult. It was a deviation from the Judaic religion. Protestant churches were all considered to be cults by the Catholic Church. In fact, the word Protestant comes from the word Protest-ant.
Nevertheless, some of the characteristics by which we can identify a cult include the following:
A Prophet - Most cults have an authority figure who claims to have received revelation regarding truth or pertaining to the mysteries of God. The Protestant churches had Martin Luther and John Calvin, among others. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church is a primary example.
Scriptures - Most cults revere certain writings as sacred or authoritative. Martin Luther's 95 Theses of 1517 is recognized as the authoritative document that launched and sustained the Reformation and gave birth to the "Lutheran cult". Similarly, John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is commonly accepted as the manuscript which empowered the "cult" of Calvinism. Likewise, Joseph Smith claimed that The Book of Mormon to be the authoritative Word of God.
Ritual - Most religions include some form of ritual, and this is no exception for cults. Ritual may include prayer, meditation or adherence to a certain rule of conduct or behavior. The "cult" of Protestantism embraced entirely different forms of rituals from that of the Catholic Church. Some examples include confession, dispensation of the sacrament and baptism. The Mormon cult has their unique Baptism of the Dead and Marriage for Time and Eternity, as an example.
Alcoholics Anonymous displays all three of the characteristics listed above which would qualify them as a cult...
Prophets - Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob are the acknowledged founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Every 12 Step program that has come into existence since the establishment of AA has been based upon the "truths" contained in the teachings of these two men.
Scripture - The authoritative writings of AA include, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and As Bill Sees It, to name just a few. Each of these books make reference to God and man's relationship to God.
Ritual - The rituals of AA include, prayer, meditation, and specific behavior in adherence to the 12 Steps and abstinence from alcohol.
AA is a Religion
Although AA claims that it is not a religion a federal appeals court held in 1999 "that AA is a religion." It is the opinion of this writer that the court's ruling is correct. Alcoholics Anonymous contains all of the distinguishing features that would classify it as a religion.
Alcoholics Anonymous Contains Christian Components
It is AA's rendition of many traditional Christian components that clearly identify it as a cult. To help clarify this consider the following:
The Serenity Prayer - Every AA meeting is opened with the "Serenity Prayer". Although AA generally does not acknowledge authorship of the Serenity Prayer, and only uses the first four lines of this prayer, it is attributed to Reinhold Neibhur, a Christian Theologian. Further research has indicated that Reinhold was not the original author of this prayer, but that the Serenity Prayer has its origin in antiquity and may go back to the Early Christian Church.
The Lord's Prayer - Every AA meeting is concluded with the Lord's prayer, right out of the King James Version of Matthew 6:9-13.
The 12 Steps - The history of the 12 Steps is actually quite fascinating and could entail an entire book of its own. To briefly summarize, however, it should be recognized that the 12 Steps were derived from Biblical principles. These principles were identified in the Methodist movement, enumerated by the Oxford Group and then expanded upon by Bill Wilson until they ultimately became the 12 Steps as we recognize them today. When Bill Wilson expounded upon why he used 12 Steps rather than some other number he explained that there had been 12 disciples and 12 tribes of Israel.
The Bible and Dr. Bob - Dr. Bob, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was accustomed to leaving his Bible upon the podium of one of the AA fellowships that he helped start. As a matter of fact, that Bible is still there to this day, long after his death.
The Big Book and the Bible - Although the comparisons are too numerous to contain in an article of this length, the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous contains many quotations, paraphrases and inferences to the Bible. Just one example of a direct quote comes out of James 2:20, "faith without works is dead."
The Pluralism of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous has been criticized by the Christian community because of its references to God as... a "Higher Power" and "God as we understand Him." However, it is this author's contention that such criticism is unwarranted. For it is, perhaps, in AA's pluralistic approach that it reaches its largest number of people. And their reasons for using this approach to an ambiguous God are not only legitimate but also very effective.
To understand AA's pluralistic approach to God one must understand the alcoholic. Essentially, there are three categories of people that are commonly alcoholic. The agnostic, the atheist and the apostate. It may be argued that these particular paradigms contribute to alcoholism. Nevertheless, each of these will generally resist a traditional approach to any discussion about God. Let us take a look at each of these briefly.
The Atheist - The atheist alcoholic will generally have the most difficult time of finding recovery. Nevertheless, he will entertain the concept of a "Higher Power". Often times for the atheist the "god" of his own understanding is... himself. Until this erroneous concept can be overcome the alcoholic will struggle.
The Agnostic - Agnostics probably comprise the largest group of individuals entering into recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous. These individuals have a syncristic concept of God, pieced together from the many things they have heard from our pluralistic society. Although the agnostic believes there is a God, he or she is uncertain about who or what God is. These individuals are generally seeking the truth, but often entertain disjointed and contradictory ideas about the nature of God. These individuals very willingly accept the concept of a Higher Power and a God of their own understanding.
The Apostate - A good number of alcoholics are back-slidden Christians. This could be for a number of reasons. So, it must be understood that many alcoholics are not ignorant of religious matters. In fact, more than a few alcoholics have had a substantial amount of religious experience and education. Sadly, a significant proportion of these alcoholics have had very negative church experiences. Cases of extreme hypocrisy, legalism, and spiritual abuse by clergy or family are not uncommon within the ranks of Alcoholics Anonymous. Many alcoholics were turned off by "church" because of these terrible experiences and justifiably so. Consequently, these types of alcoholics will be repulsed at the first hint of traditional religion.
Because of these reasons and many more the AA approach to a Higher Power has been very effective. In this respect AA provides a spiritual kindergarten, where biblical principles can be reduced to their fundamental essentials... beginning with who or what God is.
The Higher Power -
The concept of God as a Higher Power is not only effective, but it is also very biblical as Scripture references will show:
The Most High - The Bible acknowledges the principalities and powers of the universe (Eph 6:12, Col. 1:16). The key in recovery is to get the alcoholic to understand that the Higher Power is in reality the Most High. The Bible makes reference to God as "Almighty" 57 times, the "Most High" 48 times, "God Almighty" 11 times. Numerous other examples can be cited.
The Unknown God - They key with the alcoholic is helping them make the slow mental transition from atheism, agnosticism or apostasy to comprehending the omnipotent nature of the Most High. The Apostle Paul understood this when he went to Athens and encountered the pluralistic and superstitious beliefs of the Greeks.
22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:22-24)
The prophet Isaiah understood this same thing when he wrote in Isaiah 55:7-9,
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
AA Cult or Not?
So, is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult? Well, it could be. But, AA does not claim to be Christian organization. It is a fellowship of alcoholics who have spiritual solutions. We must remember that in a pluralistic organization that their teachings are only as effective as the belief systems of their members. Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous are Christians that attend church. Many of them understand Jesus Christ to be their Higher Power. In the hands of the right person the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous can be a very powerful tool for Christ.
© 2008 Mark Parsec
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More commentsI am a long time sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous and an Athiest. Although I went a long way working the program based on a willingness to believe in God, at the end of the day, I still don't. The door is open to Athiests yes however I can't deny that feeling of there being a foot trying to keep it shut to people like me from the inside. AA members need to realise that I don't want to rubbish their beliefs, having a God gives many direction and purpose however I don't want my beliefs rubbished either. The Chapter to the Agnostic tells me I'm doomed when I'm not. That was written by a fear monger and needs, among other sentences, to be removed.
This article is full of inaccuracies. All AA meetings, for example, do not end with the Lord's Prayer. The definition of agnostic is faulty, and the idea that atheists should be represented in AA is no different than saying Muslims or Catholics or Hindus should. There is not specific religious orientation in AA, and it is just as accepted to define your higher power as an oak tree as it is to define it as a Christian God.
Please conduct more thorough research before attempting to disseminate information.
There is only one God... That's the problem. To allow people to think that it is ok to believe in something that isn't God - the acceptance of the whole thing,,, is the danger. Thinking you are right with God... but actually the reality might be something else.God is a relationtional God, and we each need to know where we stand with Him. Also, another thing, is that the Truth about ourselves and each other is what we must establish. We are here for a reason... We were created WITH a purpose in mind. And then the fact that we are all headed somewhere once our lives have ended.I do think that the info above is not complete (from Mark).. But this is an important subject to debate. For many I think.And I think that we limit ourselves too much - and I am also talking about AA. We are not diseased and scarred for life... We have grown, we are blessed and we are very much loved and a part of the family of God.But it is only through the blood of Jesus that we can attain our true inheritence (healing, deliverance, restoration, knowledge, wisdom, fortitude). And that is what I know to be the Truth, I no longer look to a programme, but to God Himself.
The original article has stimulated a good deal of temperate and diverse discussion; and in the course of the comments, there has been warranted explanation that A.A. today is neither Christian nor aligned with any sect or denomination. Also, the original A.A. was a Christian fellowship, required belief in God, required acceptance of Christ, and involved required daily Bible study, prayer, Quiet Time, and giving one's life to God. Courts have wisely noted that A.A. IS a religion, albeit a one-of-a-kind as its secular orientation evolves today. My 19 years of research, and 23 years of sobriety, have left me an A.A. advocate, still a Christian, still a Bible student, and still annoyed by the constant, ill-informed references to an "higher power." That "higher power" has been called an oak tree, a radiator, a chair, Something, Somebody, the Big Dipper, a Cokle Bottle, and more recently "not-god." I fail to see where, in a diverse society with diverse convictions and a drift away from God, there is any profit in trying to demonstrate that if you call a "higher power" a "rock" or a "light bulb" you will be able to pray to it, come to it, believe in it, or recovery through it.
Thank you, Richard. Very good comments!
I think to describe AA as a cult is quite erroneous. AA does not profess perfection, but progress. Some groups only use the AA Responsibility pledge and not the prayers. Membership is open, no one is coerced or harassed because of absence at meetings. The concept that the group itself can be the higher power instead of something atheists and agnostics cannot grasp brings peace of mind to many. The group is a source of support, affirmation and collective wisdom, as is any support group. Also, the authors of The Big Book recognised that they might bump up against more complicated things in the religious realm or other things in the future. More has been written since. One of the slogans of AA is to "keep an open mind." If the atheist is not open to anything new, how can s/he be open to recovery and healing that can be experienced in a group setting? In order to change, one must have the willingness to listen to others as they share their experiences and that there might be something useful in that sharing. No one is an expert, some are further along in their recovery, everyone benefits from the group. Alcohol isolates people from others. At AA, one is no longer alone.Thank you for your comments, DH.Mark
The article and the comments were helpful to me. Largely because both are tolerant and free from the bitter name-calling that is becoming predominant in many forums, chats, and commentaries. I like A.A. I got sober in A.A. I wouldn't have wanted an oak tree helping me through all the trials and tribulations of seizures, withdrawal, and dealing with the wreckage of the past. But, though I tire of heaving about the nonsense gods, I sure don't condemn those who talk about trees, radiators, oak treas, Big Dippers, Santa Claus, and all the rest. Somehow they walked into the room of A.A. Somehow they sensed that there is little that is Christian about today's 12 Step Fellowships. And they swallowed an "higher power" as an acceptable, easier, softer way. As long as they have a problem with alcohol and don't drink, they can find a meeting and a friend in A.A. But that doesn't mean that those of us who have learned the role of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the roots and early program and successes of A.A. shouldn't choose to go that route and let our fellowship friends go theirs. I don't know where I would have gone, other than to the grave or long-term prison, if I hadn't been advised by my psychiatrist, my family, and my Bible fellowship to go for it. And I haven't had or wanted or needed or sought a drink or a sleeping pill for the entire twenty-three plus years of a better life. Moreover, I'm delighted to realize that by relying on God and getting into fellowship with Him, His Son, and other believers, I can claim the abundant life that has blessed me from the beginning. God Bless, Dick B.Hi Dick,Good to hear from you again. I appreciate your several comments on this article. Actually, I appreciate you more than you probably know. I'm looking forward to corresponding with you again soon, or talking to you once more on the phone, as my schedule permits.Your friend,Mark
I was a long-time sleeping pill addict and an alcoholic for at least 15 years. I walked into the doors of A.A. filled with terror, troubles, and unexpected withdrawal problems. That was on April 23, 1986--two days after I quit drinking. And I had had enough. But I never expected all the anxiety, fear, shaking, withdrawal symptoms, legal and other troubles that accompany sobriety. However, I took A.A. seriously, dived in, worked at learning the program of recovery, and helped scads of newcomers. Before long, I realized these things alone were not enough. I needed to place myself unreservedly in God's hands. Then I learned that this was what the A.A. pioneers had done. I learned their emphasis on belief in God, acceptance of Christ, obedience, and growth in fellowship through Bible study and prayer. These I made a part of my life also. I am still an active, recovered A.A. member. I have been continuously sober for 24 years. And I am quite clear that God has done for me what I could not do for myself. This reliance on God was the original formula for success. And it is completely dependable today. God Bless, Dick B.
AA is a cult with an apparent negative success rate and also damages people. "Our way or die" what a crock! Alcoholism is not a disease. Just stop drinking, find healthy friends and interests and pray if it helps. God loves us all even cheating LSD taking egomaniacs. Have a good one and God bless.
One final comment, and that's it. Early A.A. origins, history, founding, original Christian Fellowship program, and successes were Christian to the core. And I have spent 22 years now researching, documenting, and reporting those foundational facts. An important fact, easily answered by those who extract the higher power expression from the New Thought writers, is that A.A. has never encouraged a "higher power" concept. But the phrase is rampant and misunderstood quite often through the "wisdom of the rooms" today. Just look at the Big Book - Editions 1 to 4, and you will find the expression twice, both times in the context of the Creator, Almighty God. In fact, the "common solution" spelled out in the Big Book explicitly describes the role of the Creator in terms of the central fact. Moreover, you will find biblical descriptions of God over 400 times and quite explicit in their reference to "Creator," "Maker," "Heavenly Father," "God," Pronouns referring to God, and such expressions as Father, Spirit, and also Father of Lights--taken directly from the Book of James--a favorite with early AAs. What any individual A.A. chooses to do with some illusory higher power such as a light bulb, tree, radiator, Something, Somebody, Ralph, Gertrude, not-god-ness and other nonsense merely reflects the freedom taken by those who don't know their own history or--knowing it--choose to change it as Bill Wilson did in 1939 at the very moment the 1st edition went to press. And that liberty takes many very sick and suffering alcoholics far afield from the "God could and would if He were sought" contention in Chapter 5. My own position is well known. I believe God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played a distinct , identifiable role in early A.A. and can play that role today if and when individual members choose to call on God for help--a route they may freely discard today if they wish. I look on them as among the fellowship of suffering souls who joined and remain in A.A. primarily to overcome their drinking problem. God Bless, Dick B. www.dickb.com/godandalcoholism.shtml.
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