I will conclude with this: Ted says: "I am telling the Truth about AA, not denigrating it. There are better programs than AA and a person would be well advised to seek them out."
I say, instead: "There are many programs of recovery out there. None of them are 'better' than the other. Go find the one that seems to work best for *you*. Keep trying until you get sober and find God. Just keep trying until you find what works for you."
You are exclusionary. I am inclusionary. I need do something now, so I will stop responding to you. You may have the last word.
Lets say your a homosexual alcoholic and you go to AA. You are accepted for you sinful life and even told about Gay AA meetings where people will be completely accepting of your failing.
Is that as good a program as a Christian progam that tells you the truth that homosexuality is a sin and can be overcome? I think not.
God, by the way, is somewhat exclusionary:
New International Version (©1984)
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
1 Corinthians 6:9
But you probably dont believe that either. I rest my case.
Hear Hear! It was exactly postings like this on this board that gave me the courage to take my first steps toward recovery. And I had been in church all my life.