South Park 'took on' AA a few weeks back.
http://www.tv.com/south-park/blo...08/
summary.html
So, can atheists not partake of AA?
I'd also like to note for the record that my understanding of the Morman religion and Scientologists is also based on information as presented by South Park.
I had heard about that "South Park" episode. Satire doesn't trouble me. Sloppy journalism does, especially when it could cause harm by spreading misconceptions.
Atheists can and do partake of AA. Here's what was reported about AA in The Chronicle of Higher Education: "I've met people who bring to AA a variety of spiritual paths, as well as atheists who use AA philosophy as a way of life" (Anonymous, "Addicted in Academe," Chronicle Review, May 3, 2002, p. 7).
I'm all for any program that works for anyone but I've heard that the "12-step" programs don't have as high a success rate as other substance abuse quitting programs. As far as the being affiliated with Christianity thing, I wouldn't know because I've never been to a meeting but my friend who has says they say prayers and stuff at the meetings and I can see how that would make non-Christians feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.
AA's success rate is pretty much unknown, because the group doesn't keep records about members. So any estimate of AA's effectiveness is a guess at best. Also, when it comes to addiction and recovery, success is sort of hard to define. Is it a year clean? Ten years? A lifetime? Does success by definition mean sustained abstinence, or can it include moderate drinking? I'm not sure.
AA is indeed predicated on a spiritual approach to recovery, so anyone averse to spiritual seeking might well feel uncomfortable at meetings. On the other hand, alcoholics who find their way to AA are generally feeling uncomfortable, period, or they wouldn't be there.
But AA is definitely not affiliated with Christianity. It does have its roots in an evangelical organization called the Oxford Group, but those ties were severed in the 1930s. Curiously, the Oxford Group -- in its second incarnation, Moral Re-Armament -- also spawned the inspirational singing group Up With People, though those ties, too, were severed. (Today the Oxford Group is called Initiatives of Change.)
What does seem clear is that for people trying to kick addiction, it's very helpful to work some kind of program, as opposed to trying to go it alone. I'm curious, what are the more successful programs you're referring to?
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