AA cult members have a standard repertoire of accusations that
they throw at all of AA's critics, and I'd now like to debunk them.
Here are the 12 steps AA members take when arguing against an AA critic.
First, they'll say that:
1) You're still drinking.
2) You failed at AA.
3) You have a resentment.
4) You're not a REAL alcoholic.
5) You couldn't get honest.
6) You're a hater.
7) You have a mental disorder.
8) You don't offer alternatives to AA.
(Yawn.)
9) You hate God.
10) You never went to AA.
11) You didn't work the steps.
12) You're killing drunks when you criticize AA.
Then, they'll tell you that you'll come crying back to AA some day.
In the interests of brevity, I'd like to offer my standard repertoire of rebuttals:
1) I don't drink, and haven't for over 20 years,
but thanks for your concern.
2) I succeeded, actually, but I quit anyway,
because AA is a mind-control cult.
3) I dislike AA intensely for many reasons, not the least of which is having been
conned into joining a religious cult when I was at my most vulnerable.
My intense dislike of AA has not caused me to get drunk,
so it doesn't seem to be a true alcoholic resentment.
4) It's true, I may not be a Real alcoholic, but it's also irrelevant.
All that is required for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
5) My honesty is not up for debate.
My facts are well-researched and documented.
Furthermore, honesty is not a requirement for success in AA,
and, as proof, I offer the rampant hypocrisy endemic
among those who claim decades of sobriety.
6) Being called a hater has no real meaning. It does not cause me grief,
nor does it detract from any allegations that I might make.
I'm here trying to save others from being harmed by AA.
You're here insulting me. Who is the hater?
7) My mental health is not at issue. Alcoholism is a mental problem,
sound mental health is not a requirement for AA membership,
or sobriety, and is unlikely to be common among AA members.
8) Treatment alternatives are easily found by anyone who can read or listen,
and those who look can find them here or visit my google+ page for links.
I have offered many alternatives in the past without acknowledgment,
and I will no longer respond to this allegation.
9) My objections to AA have nothing to do with
my own religious beliefs or any lack thereof.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous includes
an entire chapter written to the agnostic,
(even if it is just an instruction manual on
how and why you should believe in god).
Faith is Not a requirement for AA membership,
or even sobriety, according to the AA literature.
10) It's utterly absurd to imagine that I would waste my time
criticizing anything I'm not well acquainted with.
11) How would you know whether or not I worked the steps?
Were you there? But go ahead, take my inventory.
It'll be good practice for your fourth step.
12) Trying to shame me into acquiescence will not have the desired effect.
Provide proof that I am killing anyone.
Time will tell whether or not I come crawling back to AA,
but the smart money is on it never happening.
Flame on!
Life is Good!
