A number of people have asked me through the years whether Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a cult. In general, this question applies to most 12 Step programs. Some of the reasons why people express concern about AA and other 12 Step recovery groups is because they encourage a belief in an ambiguous "Higher Power".
Technically, AA and other 12 Step programs could be classified as cults. However, the issue is a little more complex than we may initially believe. So, before we render judgment upon AA and other 12 Step programs let's take a moment to look at the pros and cons.
Cult Characteristics
There are a number of characteristics that can be used to identify or classify an organization as a cult. Generally, however, a cult is a religious organization that deviates from the mainstream. When Christianity began it was considered to be a cult. It was a deviation from the Judaic religion. Protestant churches were all considered to be cults by the Catholic Church. In fact, the word Protestant comes from the word Protest-ant.
Nevertheless, some of the characteristics by which we can identify a cult include the following:
A Prophet - Most cults have an authority figure who claims to have received revelation regarding truth or pertaining to the mysteries of God. The Protestant churches had Martin Luther and John Calvin, among others. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church is a primary example.
Scriptures - Most cults revere certain writings as sacred or authoritative. Martin Luther's 95 Theses of 1517 is recognized as the authoritative document that launched and sustained the Reformation and gave birth to the "Lutheran cult". Similarly, John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is commonly accepted as the manuscript which empowered the "cult" of Calvinism. Likewise, Joseph Smith claimed that The Book of Mormon to be the authoritative Word of God.
Ritual - Most religions include some form of ritual, and this is no exception for cults. Ritual may include prayer, meditation or adherence to a certain rule of conduct or behavior. The "cult" of Protestantism embraced entirely different forms of rituals from that of the Catholic Church. Some examples include confession, dispensation of the sacrament and baptism. The Mormon cult has their unique Baptism of the Dead and Marriage for Time and Eternity, as an example.
Alcoholics Anonymous displays all three of the characteristics listed above which would qualify them as a cult...
Prophets - Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob are the acknowledged founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Every 12 Step program that has come into existence since the establishment of AA has been based upon the "truths" contained in the teachings of these two men.
Scripture - The authoritative writings of AA include, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and As Bill Sees It, to name just a few. Each of these books make reference to God and man's relationship to God.
Ritual - The rituals of AA include, prayer, meditation, and specific behavior in adherence to the 12 Steps and abstinence from alcohol.
AA is a Religion
Although AA claims that it is not a religion a federal appeals court held in 1999 "that AA is a religion." It is the opinion of this writer that the court's ruling is correct. Alcoholics Anonymous contains all of the distinguishing features that would classify it as a religion.
Alcoholics Anonymous Contains Christian Components
It is AA's rendition of many traditional Christian components that clearly identify it as a cult. To help clarify this consider the following:
The Serenity Prayer - Every AA meeting is opened with the "Serenity Prayer". Although AA generally does not acknowledge authorship of the Serenity Prayer, and only uses the first four lines of this prayer, it is attributed to Reinhold Neibhur, a Christian Theologian. Further research has indicated that Reinhold was not the original author of this prayer, but that the Serenity Prayer has its origin in antiquity and may go back to the Early Christian Church.
The Lord's Prayer - Every AA meeting is concluded with the Lord's prayer, right out of the King James Version of Matthew 6:9-13.
The 12 Steps - The history of the 12 Steps is actually quite fascinating and could entail an entire book of its own. To briefly summarize, however, it should be recognized that the 12 Steps were derived from Biblical principles. These principles were identified in the Methodist movement, enumerated by the Oxford Group and then expanded upon by Bill Wilson until they ultimately became the 12 Steps as we recognize them today. When Bill Wilson expounded upon why he used 12 Steps rather than some other number he explained that there had been 12 disciples and 12 tribes of Israel.
The Bible and Dr. Bob - Dr. Bob, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was accustomed to leaving his Bible upon the podium of one of the AA fellowships that he helped start. As a matter of fact, that Bible is still there to this day, long after his death.
The Big Book and the Bible - Although the comparisons are too numerous to contain in an article of this length, the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous contains many quotations, paraphrases and inferences to the Bible. Just one example of a direct quote comes out of James 2:20, "faith without works is dead."
The Pluralism of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous has been criticized by the Christian community because of its references to God as... a "Higher Power" and "God as we understand Him." However, it is this author's contention that such criticism is unwarranted. For it is, perhaps, in AA's pluralistic approach that it reaches its largest number of people. And their reasons for using this approach to an ambiguous God are not only legitimate but also very effective.
To understand AA's pluralistic approach to God one must understand the alcoholic. Essentially, there are three categories of people that are commonly alcoholic. The agnostic, the atheist and the apostate. It may be argued that these particular paradigms contribute to alcoholism. Nevertheless, each of these will generally resist a traditional approach to any discussion about God. Let us take a look at each of these briefly.
The Atheist - The atheist alcoholic will generally have the most difficult time of finding recovery. Nevertheless, he will entertain the concept of a "Higher Power". Often times for the atheist the "god" of his own understanding is... himself. Until this erroneous concept can be overcome the alcoholic will struggle.
The Agnostic - Agnostics probably comprise the largest group of individuals entering into recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous. These individuals have a syncristic concept of God, pieced together from the many things they have heard from our pluralistic society. Although the agnostic believes there is a God, he or she is uncertain about who or what God is. These individuals are generally seeking the truth, but often entertain disjointed and contradictory ideas about the nature of God. These individuals very willingly accept the concept of a Higher Power and a God of their own understanding.
The Apostate - A good number of alcoholics are back-slidden Christians. This could be for a number of reasons. So, it must be understood that many alcoholics are not ignorant of religious matters. In fact, more than a few alcoholics have had a substantial amount of religious experience and education. Sadly, a significant proportion of these alcoholics have had very negative church experiences. Cases of extreme hypocrisy, legalism, and spiritual abuse by clergy or family are not uncommon within the ranks of Alcoholics Anonymous. Many alcoholics were turned off by "church" because of these terrible experiences and justifiably so. Consequently, these types of alcoholics will be repulsed at the first hint of traditional religion.
Because of these reasons and many more the AA approach to a Higher Power has been very effective. In this respect AA provides a spiritual kindergarten, where biblical principles can be reduced to their fundamental essentials... beginning with who or what God is.
The Higher Power -
The concept of God as a Higher Power is not only effective, but it is also very biblical as Scripture references will show:
The Most High - The Bible acknowledges the principalities and powers of the universe (Eph 6:12, Col. 1:16). The key in recovery is to get the alcoholic to understand that the Higher Power is in reality the Most High. The Bible makes reference to God as "Almighty" 57 times, the "Most High" 48 times, "God Almighty" 11 times. Numerous other examples can be cited.
The Unknown God - They key with the alcoholic is helping them make the slow mental transition from atheism, agnosticism or apostasy to comprehending the omnipotent nature of the Most High. The Apostle Paul understood this when he went to Athens and encountered the pluralistic and superstitious beliefs of the Greeks.
22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:22-24)
The prophet Isaiah understood this same thing when he wrote in Isaiah 55:7-9,
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
AA Cult or Not?
So, is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult? Well, it could be. But, AA does not claim to be Christian organization. It is a fellowship of alcoholics who have spiritual solutions. We must remember that in a pluralistic organization that their teachings are only as effective as the belief systems of their members. Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous are Christians that attend church. Many of them understand Jesus Christ to be their Higher Power. In the hands of the right person the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous can be a very powerful tool for Christ.
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