No Subject

[Guest guest]

.... " Want to know what one of my deprogramming tools is? Teletubbies.

For

some reason, they are extremely comforting to me. When I share that

with people, they look at me like I'm nuts (so I don't share it with

too many people

For me, it wasn't just AA. It was a mental framework that existed

before I found out about AA, that I was not aware of until about a year

and a half ago (I was in AA from 84-85 or so). An unhealthy,

dysfunctional framework that I had worked pretty successfully to

destroy, but the EAP counselor I saw vibed right onto it and boom, I

was a vulnerable little kid again. So for me, it wasn't enough to leave

AA. It really was a matter, first, of understanding why I even tried

to believe that bs for as long as I did.

Also, there is a LOT of social support for the idea that you should

do

exactly what others expect of you. There is a LOT of social support

for attending AA if you drink too much, but that will change if those

of us who've been harmed just keep talking about it. Might not change

in our lifetimes, but then again it might. Attitudes toward smoking

have taken a 180 degree turnaround in the 40 years I've been alive. I

never saw handicapped ramps when I was a kid, and now they're the law. "

Excellent post Judith.

guadman

[Guest guest]

Kiki,

Ever been to AA? This list was the first place I had seen the idea of AA as

a cult discussed. It was like a light went on over my head, as I had been

for some time searching for the word to explain how my own AA experience

felt. The pressure to conform was unbearable.

First, they told me that I had to believe that I was powerless over alcohol

and my life had become unmanageable. Well, to tell you the truth I was out

of control, but, to believe that I had a problem for which there was no

human relief was actually the first big AA lie. People can and do stop

destructive behaviors all of the time. AA would have you believe a

different " truth, " theirs. To believe that their is a big eye in the sky

that will relieve us from our drinking problem (even if we do believe in

God) is to disempower us and ask us to believe in miracles.

Also, to believe that all we have to do to be relieved of our " character

defects " is to write them down, read them to another person, then pray to

God is a ridiculous concept. Again, this disempowers the person. The

character traits that I possessed that needed improving were not aided by

some miraculous invisible power. Improvement came when I was willing to

commit myself to becoming pro-active in my own life. The fourth, fifth and

sixth steps are simply a way for the AA member to lie to themselves that

they are somehow excused from all of the havoc they created so they can feel

better about themselves. In fact, I believe that a good argument could be

made that the steps are a way for a person to stay as messed up as they have

always been. They just have to jump through these hoops to become a part of

a cult which will validate them and allow them to feel a part of something.

llawrence@...

No Subject

> You Guys: What about " take what works and leave the rest... " I've heard

> alot of that in AA, too. Essentially, I think AA is a bunch of people

> coming together to share their problems and solutions with other

> people. If it were just about " Pray and all will be better. " then I

> don't think alot of people like me would stick around. Strangers should

> come together in meeting halls and basements anyway. It's a good think

> when people get brought together to share with each other. Sure,

> religion is a crock, but I think the main deal is to get problem

> drinkers or drug addicts or alcoholics or whatever outside of

> themselves and relating to other people withouth using.

>

> honestly, i don't know too much about the steps accept that they seem

> geared toward getting someone who thinks themselves beyond help to

> accept help in the form of suggestions and direction. I think the God

> thing should fade away. It wont cause religion will hold on for dear

> life, but what's really going on is people helping people. cause no

> matter what you believe, there aint no god. get over it.

> kiki

>

>

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