AA is this mandated religion??

[Charlie P]

How can you be forced into AA by the courts? Isn't this forcing religion on people?

[Bob H in NH]

You are usually not forced, but given a choice where the other option is horrible, but still, you're choice.

Second, how do you figure its a religion?

[Charlie P]

We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character

Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs


Sounds like religion to me.

BTW their succes rate is the same as alcohics that recieve no treatment.

[BenGarrett]

Charlie, how often is someone forced into AA by the court? They're typically given a choice . . . Jail time or AA. Most folks I know would gladly find religion to avoid jail time.

[david m]

i'd certainly pretend to believe in god to avoid jail time.

[Charlie P]

Charlie, how often is someone forced into AA by the court?

Don't know however there are other programs out there that are as effective if not more effective,but are not used.

Jail time or AA. Most folks I know would gladly find religion to avoid jail time.

So your saying their really given no choice?

[Tazman]

Many moons ago young lads were given a choice also in cases like this, enlist in the military or go to jail!

[vc1111]

I agree that religion is part of the package that is forced a person in AA.

But then consider the options...going to jail can result in a different type of package being forced.

[tardfarmer]

Are you sure it's AA (a private group) or a state run gig?


Each state has a boat load of AODA councelors - virtually all are ex-drunks. I don't believe they send you to AA.


But in any case, for those that say "the government can't force morality upon the people", this is a prime example of how they CAN and do force morality on the people.

When you're a potential harm to yourself or someone else, they try and force you to clean up your act.

Is that such a bad thing ?

[Charlie P]

Is that such a bad thing ?

Their success rate is the same as Alocoholics that don't seek treatment and clean up themselves.