Religious aspects of the Alcoholics Anonymous program (AA) assessed
Alcoholics Anonymous prides itself as a spiritual program as opposed to having an affiliation with any religious denomination. As a matter of fact its 12th tradition states: “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions; ever reminding us to place principles above personalities”; and its 12th step states: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these step, we tried to carry this message to other alcoholics, and practice these principle in all our affairs”. But what is it that makes AA a “non” religious entity? And what is this “spirituality” that separates AA from religiosity?
First we should establish those aspects that seem to tag along with the idea of religion and how these key points function in the AA program:
1.Religion could be stated as a path to God.
On pg 45 (3rd Edition) of AA Big Book it states “Its (the book) main objective is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve all your problems…that we are going to talk about God”. And on pg 85 it states “Everyday is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of out activities”
If we consider the implications of the Big Book’s wording, it not only states that its main objective is a path to God, but it is a must to live this path 24/7.
2.Religion could be said as being filled with ritualistic rules.
In the Doctor’s Opinion of the AA Big Book, Dr. Wm. D. Silkworth, a well-known doctor specializing in alcoholic and drug addiction, states in one of his letters “the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules”. On pg 25 it states “we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution”, on pg 58 it goes on to say: “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path” and of course the 12th step that suggests to “practice these principles in all our affairs”, inferring the need to continually or “ritualistically” work these “principles” on a daily basis.
Comparing the suggestions of AA to a religion, thus far, they both appear to be of similar substance.
3.The main objective of religion is belief or faith in a “God”.
It has been said that this is where AA and religion differs. On pg 46 of the Big Book it states: “Our own conception (of God), however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach” and in Bill’s Story, on pg 12, he states “It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power