I've been sober for 16 days, which may invalidate my thoughts on this matter, but I think people in this thread are getting very caught up in the "religion has done bad things, therefore religion can do no good" line of thinking.

I have never been a religious person, and I have constantly heard that "A higher power" could be anything. A lot of the times I tried to get sober previously, I'd look down at that idea and discount AA, thinking that it was just a thinly veiled cover for a religious organization. I also had previously been under the impression that I am my own highest power and that 'passing the buck' on my drinking was shirking accountability.

I still think that I'm my own highest power, but I understand the idea of the 'higher power'. It may not be morally or ethically justifiable to some of you, but the fact of the matter is that people are coming to AA because they have lost control of their lives. Uncontrolled alcoholism is dangerous to the individual, and can absolutely be dangerous to those around that individual. I see the justification of 'shedding the accountability' from alcoholics through calling it a disease and admitting being powerless over it (Step #1), because it has the most prolific record of getting people to stop. It's as simple as that; it has mitigated the threat that addicted individuals pose towards those around them.

There is more than likely a more up-to-date model of addiction that better explains it, and a recovery process tailored around said model. But the fact remains that this program has worked for a lot of people. If you have never dealt with an alcoholic friend or family member, I think that it is very easy to write this off and feel like you're superior to it, and maybe you are. However, it has been helping me, and it helped my dad. I don't think its any of yalls prerogative to downplay AA, as it could just be discouraging someone who thinks they might have a problem from doing something about it because they're afraid of being labeled a 'cultist' or whatever.