Q&A: Is AA Degenerating to the Point of Uselessness?
Question by titou: Is AA degenerating to the point of uselessness?
Again. I know. But more comments would be appreciated, especially encouraging ones.
I have been “in recovery” in AA for 20 years, and sober for the last 12. During this time, I have experienced what seems to be a generalized change in the conduct of AA meetings and its members.
With few exceptions, gone is the welcoming spirit I found in the beginning, replaced with a self-satisfied complacency. “Step Series” meetings predominate here in Miami where I live, with some especially worthy speaker “sharing his experience, strength, and hope” for 12 consecutive weeks — chosen of course by a committee of worthies. Never mind the pamphlet ‘A Member’s Eye View” which says, “The newcomer is greatly relieved that he does not have to submit to any lectures.” And never mind most of the Traditions, either, except as they can be twisted to eliminate those who “endanger group unity”, or by pointing to the 4th’s principle of “Autonomy” to justify any idiosyncratic rules or format.
I look, as it says in the 2nd Step, to “every meeting as proof we can be returned to sanity”. But I am rarely finding it. The often repeated “you can always go to another meeting” seems equivalent to throwing someone off a lifeboat because there are others nearby, as does the washing of hands of responsibility which rhymes with “AA has no opinion on outside issues” according to the average AA member. Last time I looked, my name was not “AA”.
Have “sobriety” and “accepting the world on the world’s terms” become a reson to act like ostriches, accepting the unacceptable by ignoring it? What about the actual warning of the 1st Tradition, that failing to provide for the welcoming inclusion of all will “send the alcoholic back to his cave, wondering what a great thing AA might have been.” Or indeed the all-encompassing 12th — “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions…” Surely that is directed toward our judgment and treatment of those around us, as well as toward ourselves?
Best answer:
Answer by alex
Please don’t blame AA for your problems.Seems to me that you are making excudes to drink.
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