Is AA a religion?
The stigma of religiosity
Over the years, the question of whether AA is a religious organization has always been controversial and contentious. To many laypeople who are not members, it has gained a reputation as a religion. Some of the more extreme opinions even tend toward the idea that AA is a religious cult.
These are myths about AA that need to be cleared up. This is an important question because some alcoholics who don’t believe in God don’t bother coming to AA because they believe AA to be a religion. One has to wonder how many of them drink themselves into oblivion, assuming that the fellowship has nothing to offer them. The unfortunate stigma that AA appears to have developed is that alcoholics cannot get sober without God.
The AA preamble
At the beginning of every meeting worldwide, the AA preamble is read. This short reading tells us what AA is and what it isn’t. For the purposes of this blog, it is worth quoting the preamble in full. This simple statement should dispel any misgivings about AA’s primary purpose:
“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”
Every religion also comes under the definition of an institution, organization, denomination, or even sect. In its preamble, AA makes it very clear that it is not allied with any of these outside bodies. AA’s primary purpose is read out at the beginning of every meeting: to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Isn’t it self-evident that the founders of AA always intended the fellowship to be non-religious?
The “God” word in the Twelve Steps
Yes, it is true to say that Bill Wilson did include the word “God” in five of the twelve steps and a “Power greater than ourselves” in Step Two. On the insistence of Jim Burwell, AA’s first atheist, Bill agreed to add the clause “as we understand him” after Steps Three and Eleven. Moreover, a Power greater than ourselves does in no way allude to a supernatural deity. It is quite simply a power greater than our own individual power. Bill Wilson, the co-founder of AA, himself makes the following statement on page 27 in Step Two of The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
“You can if you wish make AA itself your “higher power.” Here’s a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. In this respect, they are certainly a power greater than you.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – p. 27
Do you think that, as one of the co-founders of AA, Bill Wilson was trying to start a religion by making this statement?
The “God” word pamphlet
Over the years, there has been harm caused to alcoholics trying to get sober in AA who identify as atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers. This harm has come from false and misleading beliefs about AA, both outside the fellowship and, sadly, within it. Several years ago, AA agreed to publish a new “conference-approved” pamphlet. It can be found on the literature table of most AA meetings. It is called the “God” word and is the work of a group in London, UK. It is known as the Thursday Islington Agnostic, Atheist, and Freethinkers group. The opening line of this AA pamphlet is, “AA is not a religious organization.” You can read the entire pamphlet here.
The Lord’s prayer.
Recently, at one of my home groups, the person elected to lead the meeting did something that I am sure most members of the secular fellowship would find uncomfortable. I wasn’t present at this particular meeting, but was told about it by an AA buddy who was. At the close of the meeting, he asked everyone to stand and recite the Lord’s Prayer. Do you think this action could be considered standard AA practice?
This, of course, would have been perfectly acceptable if reciting the Lord’s prayer at the end of the meeting was unanimously agreed upon at group conscience, but it wasn’t. This member’s personal position may well have been that AA is a religious organization. Although the Lord’s prayer may be a powerful spiritual invocation for many, unless specifically voted in by a group conscience, it has no place at an AA meeting.
Quite simply, the Lord’s prayer does not appear in the AA literature. As such, it is not part of the program of recovery from alcoholism as outlined in any of the AA literature.
In conclusion, the Lord’s prayer belongs to the Christian religion. Although AA did have its early roots in the Oxford Group, which was an evangelical Christian movement, modern AA is a recovery program for alcohol addiction. As such, it should not be affiliated with any outside religious institution.
The Third and Tenth Tradition
The Third Tradition and Tenth Tradition in particular emphasize the non-religious and inclusive nature of the fellowship:
Third Tradition (Long Form):
“Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence, we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.”
This ensures that belief (or lack thereof) is not a condition of membership.
Tenth Tradition (Short Form):
“Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.”
This prevents the organization from aligning itself with any specific religion, politics, or sect.
Its Twelve Steps are spiritual, not religious.
Religious fundamentalism in AA
It seems clear from the evidence presented that, contrary to widespread opinion, AA is not a religion. At best, it may be described as a quasi-religion. That said, based on my own personal experience, a disturbing reality has beset Alcoholics Anonymous. Although there is no doubt that AA is not a religion, splinter groups have formed in the fellowship. There is no other way to describe them than to call them religious fundamentalists.
These groups arrogantly ignore everything that Bill Wilson ever said about the inclusivity of AA.
Responsibility Is Our Theme
Newcomers are approaching AA at the rate of tens of thousands yearly. They represent almost every belief and attitude imaginable. We have atheists and agnostics. We have people of nearly every race, culture, and religion. In AA we are supposed to be bound together in the kinship of a common suffering. Consequently, the full individual liberty to practice any creed or principle or therapy whatever should be a first consideration for us all. Let us not, therefore, pressure anyone with our individual or even our collective views. Let us instead accord each other the respect and love that is due to every human being as he tries to make his way toward the light. Let us always try to be inclusive rather than exclusive; let us remember that each alcoholic among us is a member of AA, so long as he or she so declares.
Bill W.
In stark contrast to the inclusivity always encouraged by Bill, these religious fundamentalists flatly declare that no alcoholic can get sober without God. If you remain an atheist, agnostic, or freethinker and stay sober, then you could not have been an alcoholic in the first place.
When I was a newcomer, I was lost, vulnerable, and desperate to stop drinking. One day, I found myself in what I perceived to be a very positive and powerful meeting. After it was over, the regular members took my phone number and began calling me and inviting me to coffee. It was terrific for a lonely and marginalized alcoholic to suddenly become the center of attention.
The sharing at the meeting was very upbeat and dynamic. The focus was on sponsorship and the Big Book. They liked to believe that they had a superior brand of AA. If you followed their suggestion, your recovery would be fast-tracked. Little did I know that I fell into the snare of a cult-like splinter group. It was hardcore religious fundamentalism.
Hardcore sponsorship
The religious aspect was veiled at first and hidden behind an unconditional surrender to a Big Book sponsor. By the time I realized what was really going on, quite a lot of harm had been caused through hardcore sponsorship, which turned out to be nothing more than bullying. It was like any other cult. Once deeply involved, it was hard to break away. I was fortunate and got a lot of support in mainstream AA. Regular members helped to gradually deprogram me from the brainwashing I received through this type of fundamentalism.
Some years later, I wrote a short book which I called, “You can’t be a real alcoholic if you don’t believe in God.” A free PDF download is available on my website’s homepage. If you scroll down the homepage, you will find a link to the book’s copy.
In conclusion, although AA is definitely not a religion, sadly, there are religious splinter groups within the fellowship. I believe that with the growth of secular AA, these fundamentalist groups are gradually becoming the minority. That said, they are still a reality on the AA landscape. These groups pose a danger to newcomers, some of whom may be lost and vulnerable. Joining these groups may seem attractive at first, as does their message. The newcomer is promised a life beyond their wildest dreams and a relationship with God that will solve all their problems.
Of course, everyone has a personal belief system, and if it helps them get sober, that’s ok. That said, trying to influence or force anyone into what they believe is diametrically opposed to the spiritual ethos of AA.
Stay safe
Andy F
