AA and Religion

Americans did not first learn about Alcoholism through television, newspapers, the radio, or even the internet. Americans were not originally informed of the "disease" by their politicians or through a Presidential Address. Instead, they can testify to alcoholism's existence by referencing their brother, their sister, their mother, their father, their aunt, their uncle, their friends, their lovers, or themselves. Citizens may read that there are "between 10 and 14 million alcoholics in America" (Walker) and flinch at the numbers. People have been assaulted by the saddening statistics of the negative impact of alcoholism for years. For some readers, the unyielding declarations of a person dying in an automobile crash involving alcohol every twenty-two minutes, alcoholism's direct links to both spousal along with child abuse, and the consumption of alcohol being involved in 60% of all violent crime in America (International Union of Gospel Missions) have lost their effective impact much like the way the vulgar insults or the lewd private messages do for the average chatter. It is the real life inclusion of drinking problems that affect families and friends the most. All the statistics in the world cannot compare to seeing a loved one struggle with the addiction. Words on paper are nothing compared to seeing a loved one lose their job or their significant other. The cataloging of percentages is meaningless in contrast to burying a family member.

People have sought out treatment for these loved ones and themselves for decades now, and a high level of praise must be given to all those strong enough to challenge such a widespread addiction. It is a trek that promises no mercy. It is a trek made even harder by misconceptions and myths. Until Americans are better informed, the struggle through treatment will bear even more failures and less happy endings. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the best example of a treatment option that has been shrouded by mythology. The myths of AA's founding history and success rate among participants have postponed recovery for many well meaning people.

The founding history, which shapes both the framework and foundation, of Alcoholics Anonymous as an organization roots itself from religious factions. Co-founders Bill Wilson and Bob Smith "were both members of a Protestant evangelical group called the Oxford Group Movement (OGM)" and have directly borrowed many of the core concepts of the religion, including the famous 12 Step program (Bufe, 255). Wilson even went as far as to write in his book, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, a praise and credit to the teachings of Rev. Shoemaker. To break down the OGM influence over the 12 Step program even further, personal powerlessness and divine guidance are accounted "in steps 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 11," confession is in steps 4, 5, and 10, restitution is in both steps 8 and 9, "and the principle of continuance is embodied in steps 10 and 12" (Bufe, 256). Over time, both founders and the organization have steered attention away from these facts to still attract Catholic membership and to distance the organization from the public statement published by Frank Buchman, the founder of OGM, which thanked God for the existence of Adolf Hitler (Bufe, 255).

The ties between AA and the OGM are important because they help account for the reasons why AA is not set up to treat all addicts regardless of religious beliefs. If someone does not believe in a higher power, how then can that person accept that a higher power will come to her/his salvation as stated in the 12 Steps? If someone doesn't believe in prayer, how can such an act realistically provide him/her with the confidence and inner support to overcome the disease? If someone proverbially frowns at the concept of confession, how can such an act provide her/him with a peace of mind? Representatives of AA claim it is not deity specific, but that assertion is not too convincing when one remembers the organization's strong religious background and scans some of Wilson's anti-atheism sentiments written in Alcoholics Anonymous. In chapter 4, he claims that atheists are crazy (Bufe, 256-257). Any organization that not only roots itself but also utilizes the exclusive teachings of a belief system cannot affectively treat all citizens whom wield diversified backgrounds.

The religious influence of AA has not gone unnoticed among political lobbyists. There are some citizens and politicians whom have fought to keep AA out of mandatory treatment sentences for people convicted with alcohol related crimes, namely drunk driving. Not only has mandatory AA involvement failed to prove impressive recoveries (hence, driving down the success rate of AA even further), the sentencing has also left some experts questioning if it violates the Separation of Church and State. Should the federal government or any state governing body have the power to demand their citizens to partake in any activity proved religious in nature? A high court in New York says "no." With a 5-2 ruling, the court found that AA "engages in religious activity and religious proselytization" (Barron), which would violate an atheist's constitutional right to freely deny the existence of a deity.

Due to AA's inability to effectively treat people regardless of religious beliefs, the treatment program has a less-than-stellar record for reforming people. For example, AA had the highest drop-out rate (68%) than other treatment groups (including nonprofessionally run Rational Behavior Therapy, professionally run Rational Behavior Therapy, and Freudian therapy) in a mid-1970's study administered in the state of Kentucky. In fact, only the group of people who did not seek out treatment reported a rate of decreased drinking worse than that of AA (Bufe, 254). What is even more distressing is that only 5% of AA members remain in the program for more than one year (Peele).

This article is not meant to criticize any religion or belief system., nor is it meant to ridicule people currently in AA. For those people, a great amount of respect must be given for their commitment towards a cure. Instead, it is meant to better inform people on their venues when seeking out treatment for alcoholism. Since AA is the largest treatment program in America, it is not only important but essential that a person can reason for themselves if AA is the route of treatment best suited for his/her personal needs. There are many alternative treatment options in America with promising success rates. SMART Recovery, Women for Sobriety, Moderation Management, Secular Organizations of Sobriety, and even private therapy sessions, which are often covered by health insurance plans, are great examples.

Work Cited

Barron, James. "N.Y. Court Lets Inmate Refuse Alcohol Program." http://www.positiveatheism.org/rw/alcohol.htm 1996, The New York Times.

Bufe, Charles. "AA Lies." Pages 254-259 of You Are Being Lied To. Edited by Russ Kick.

The Disinformation Company Ltd, 2001.

International Union of Gospel Missions. "The Impact of Alcohol Abuse on American Society." http://www.av.iugm.org/faq/impact.html

Peele, Stanton. "AA Role in Society---More Negative Than Positive?" http://www.peele.net/faq/aarole.html Copyright 1996-2004.

Walker, Victoria. "Facts About Alcoholism." http://momo.essortment.com/factsalcoholism_rfed.htm Pagewise, Inc. 2002.