If you make it a point to cut to the chase in AA, and especially read “The Doctors Opinion”, they stress that the solution is spiritual in nature. The rest — the steps, the meetings, the fellowship — are just catalysts to get you there.
I am well versed in AA, having been involved to some extent for over 30 years. However, not all AA teaching is true and AA is not what it once was.
For example, in the doctors opinion, it states that the body of the “Alcholic” is quite as abnormal as his mind. There have been numerous theories set forward to ‘prove” this over the years, but it has NEVER been proven . AA’s are fond of making a distinction between a “real alcoholic” and a “heavy drinker”. It has never been proven.
In The Doctors Opinion it states that “these allergic types can never safely alcohol in any form”. It’s never been proven that alcoholics have an allergy. The studies (quoted at length in the book “Heavy Drinking The Myth of Alchoholism as as Disease” show that in fact that is not true.
Furthermore, the entire Spirituality of AA is called into question by its acceptance of homosexuality. Gay meetings abound. The newest edition of the Big Book even contains the story of an unrepentant homosexual activists (Tightrope). That kind of so called spirituality isn’t going to help anyone.
In many respects, AA is a place to go to get brainwashed. Not a place to go for a spiritual awakening. At least that is my experience with over 30 years in AA. I write about all this in my book btw.