If you ask people who share this "party line" of AA being a selfish program you'll get many opinions as to what the phrase actually means. It's nothing more than another source of confusion; especially for newcomers. It's a shame but I believe there are too many people in the fellowship sharing everything under the sun except how to recover from alcoholism by practicing the 12 steps. Anything I say in meeting shouldn't have to have too much further explanation. Those that share this idea that AA is a selfish program may find they have to explain it quite a bit more if an inquisitive newcomer gets up enough courage to ask. Underneath this phrase lies a world of different opinions as to it's meaning. Some will say that it means those looking for recovery ought to put it first above everything. That idea is great and absolutely the AA program so why not just say that instead?
Misleading catch phrases, ideas and information that do not line up with the program are an unfortunate occurrence in today's fellowship. Catch phrases and party lines spread like gossip because they "sound good" and are catchy, but sometimes wind up contradicting the true program of AA entirely. Those of us who have studied the book conclude the opposite. That AA is a SELFLESS program. We are to try to rid ourselves of self centeredness and selfishness through a relationship with a Higher Power if we are to recover.
The word selfish occurs 13 times in the AA text. In all cases it is looked on as a NEGATIVE feature of character. Here are examples. The idea that AA is a selfish program is not once found in the text. It is a dangerous AA fellowship party line that I suspect is doing more harm than good. Here are some examples.
... selfishness.
BB
How It Works, p.62
1. He is often perfectly sensible and well balanced concerning everything except liquor, but in that respect
he is incredibly dishonest and selfish.
2.
... selfish and
dishonest.
BB
How It Works, p.61
3.
... selfish and
foolish, I had been seriously ...
BB
Bill's Story, p.7
Best of all, I met a kind doctor who explained that though certainly selfish and foolish, I had been seriously ill, bodily and mentally.
4.
Selfish and
inconsiderate habits have kept the ...
BB
Into Action, p.82
5.
... selfish, dishonest
or afraid?
BB
Into Action, p.86
6.
... selfish, dishonest,
or inconsiderate?
BB
How It Works, p.69
7.
... selfish, dishonest,
self-seeking and frightened?
BB
How It Works, p.67
8.
... selfish ends.
BB
Into Action, p.87
9.
... selfish of
water or bread.
12&12
Tradition One, p.131
10.
... selfish or
not?
BB
How It Works, p.69
11.
... selfish pursuit
of the sex relation damage ...
12&12
Step Four, p.50
When, and how, and in just what instances did my selfish pursuit of the sex relation damage other people and me?
12.
... selfish things
and gain interest in our ...
BB
Into Action, p.84
13.
... selfish, we
may excite jealousy, misery, and ...
12&12
Step Eight, p.80
You did not explain what is meant by 'this is a selfish program'. I heard someone who has been 'sober' for over 10 years say that just the other night and thought, what on earth?! It is meant to mean that we are very guarded about maintaining sobriety, but really it is nothing more than taken straight from the bible once again,..I fear AA lies and isn't honest about the source of where they really got their foundation from and that is JESUS, but they took out the priniplces and stripped them of the Source itself and turned into exactly that, a SELFISH PROGRAM under the guise of humility, but do they have the Humility to Claim Christ as their Salvation? However, how awesome is He! he knew in advance 2000 years ago this would be the case in saying, "He who is ashamed of Me, My Father in Heaven will be Ashamed of them" Apostle Paul wrote, "Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling"..that 'fear and trembling' was likely understood then as an expression ... So 'work out your salvation" (in AA, sobriety) with Fear and trembling"..is the equivalent. And they say, it works if you work it..now ask, "what words if you work what?"..This really is talking about becoming sanctified in a state of humiliyt before God in "Be Perfect as my Father is Perfect"...being shaped and molded into the person God would have us be. It's a horrible thing that so many in AA have 'a god' of their own imagination than the Truth because they still can't humble themselves but create an illusion instead. I'm getting ready to bail on the program completely, it's just too sad to watch anymore.
ReplyDeleteHI Stephen, thank you for your comment. Perhaps I can clear up any misunderstanding. What I am trying to say with this article is that no where in AA literature is it claimed that AA is a selfish program. Through studying the text of AA I have found that saying that AA is a selfish program is not correct. Where this idea came from I do not know. But I do know it is not correct. AA is truly a program of selflessness and it is through abandoning self and doing Gods will that alcoholics can get relief and recovery from alcoholism. Thankfully AA is not affiliated with any religion but does share some common fundamental ideas of spirituality with many of them. If AA was affiliated with any religion at all I probably would have run away a long time ago and died from alcoholism. It is AA's open ending approach to spirituality which makes the idea of depending on God much easier for apprehensive and pessimistic alcoholics like myself. Cheers and I hope this helps ~BringTheHope
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