Ways Of Establishing If AA Is A Cult

By Harold Campbell


Alcoholism is a problem that affects an individual in many ways and if you are a victim, you may want to seek help from professionals. You have to be very careful when choosing the right rehabilitation center as some of them may be associated with doctrines you may not be comfortable with. The following are some of the ways to establish if AA is a cult.

The first thing that should make you raise an eyebrow is the manner in which the recruitment of the members is done. Since the organization is believed to want to help members of a society quit alcohol, then no willing member should be barred from attending the meetings regardless of their gender, culture, and denomination. If there is discrimination, find out the requirements set aside and their impact on the institution.

The approach they use should be a reasonable one. Dealing with addiction requires the victim to show a lot of commitment and hard work. An entity that promises an instant solution through some mysterious process or rituals cannot be trusted. They should clearly state how they are going to handle your condition using an approach that has been proved to be effective.

Wealth is another way to judge an institution. If they seem to accumulate a lot of wealth yet the members are not charged much, you may want to know where the wealth is coming from. If it is from certain sponsors, their intentions should be known. Some cults will accumulate money by ensuring that they control the finances of the members who will not question the spending.

The other thing to look for is the information they pass on to their members through their teachings. People that wish to convert others into their beliefs will include it in their program. You will notice that a lot of time is used on religious matters rather than the alcoholism issue that these members want to be addressed. Do not be afraid to inquire about the topics to be covered in each session.

The leadership of the entity is another point to keep in mind. In most cases, there is a laid down constitution that guides the entity on the management. In the absence of this document, there will be a lot of misunderstandings due to the many interested individuals that want to lead. However, a creed may lack the laws as the leader is self-proclaimed and unchallenged.

It is normal for one to enroll in a program and lose interest after some time. Quitting should not be complicated as there are so many other organizations offering rehabilitation services to alcoholics. You will, however, have a hard time if you want to stop attending the meetings yet the entity is too strict or even threatens you. This could be a sign that it is indeed a creed.

The experience of people that have been to these meetings and quit later on is vital when making a decision. There are many reasons as to why one may lose interest in the sessions even if they have not fully recovered from their addiction. By interacting with these people, you will get a lot of information that members may be afraid to share.




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