Cult Buster

Analysis of the 12 Step / Cult Connection

As the name implies, this webpage is my analysis of addictions. More specifically, I focus on the 12 step/cult angle of addiction treatment. Topics covered are:

• 1) The AA disease theory,
• 2) Glenn Turner’s brainwashing techniques,
• 3) Testimonies and Thoughts,
• 4) Margaret Singer’s cult definitions,
• 5) The God connection.

[ Click above to jump directly to specific topic ]

Since the subjects of 12 step addiction treatment, and behavior modifications employed by cults are so extensive, I’ve included just enough information here to substantiate my assessments. Most of these writings focus on the behavior modifications employed in 12 step programs, rather than the religious aspects as so many other critics do.

Disease Theory

My initiation to the disease concepts of alcoholism was explained to me by a counselor working for a counseling agency contracted by IBM. During the session, I was labeled an “alcoholic” and told that I had a “disease,” which was incurable and progressive; however, I could be cured by totally abstaining and attending AA meetings for life. In addition, the disease, which was caused by problem drinking, had altered my brain’s structure and function.

I’ve always been skeptical about this theory; and I maintain that’s exactly what it is: a mere idea built on presuppositions and conjecture. Moreover, I always speculated that a disease was some form of creepy, crawly, malignant micro-organisms that wiggles and squirms within a biological entity—in our case, the human body. Therefore, when my counselor gave me this explanation for my actions, it didn’t compute. After hearing this reasoning for so long in AA meetings, I was almost convinced; it was like a subtle case of brainwashing. 12 step doctrines also teach that the underlying disease gets worse even during long periods of abstinence.

The “disease theory” was adopted back in the pioneer days of AA as a means to alleviate alcoholics of self-guilt. During that era, in 1935, psycho-analysis, professional counseling, and therapies were almost nonexistent. This theory also shifts the diagnosis from a psycho-social cause to an abnormal psycho-biological condition. More specifically, the indwelling of a pathological entity if you will. In layman’s terms: a habitual drunkard is helpless to conquer their addiction, since he/she is mentally unstable due to an alleged disease. Years later, in 1956, the American Medical Association (AMA) had officially declared alcoholism a disease, despite the skepticisms of many professionals.

I’ve deduced that mental problems due to an addiction are brought on by excessive abuse over extensive periods of time. Therefore, if there is any validity to this disease hypothesis, I argue the point that the disease occurred as a result of abuse, not that the abuse occurred because of a purported disease. More specifically, I define the disease in this case as chemical changes in the brain caused by alcohol and certain drugs. If abuse is continued, it can produce authentic disease such as hypertension and cirrhosis.

This theory is in line with the recent theory called “dual diagnosis,” that was introduced at the turn of the millennium. Clearly stated, the dual diagnosis condition exists when someone has both a medical disorder and an alcohol or drug problem.

According to the National Institute of Health:

These conditions occur together frequently. In particular, alcohol and drug problems tend to occur with depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. . . . Sometimes the mental problem occurs first. This can lead people to use alcohol or drugs that make them feel better temporarily. Sometimes the substance abuse occurs first. Over time, that can lead to emotional and mental problems. [1]

Alcoholism Is Not A Disease: Stanton Peele, Ph.D.

The lack of responsibility for one’s addictive behavior is a primary reason why many 12 steppers ferociously hang on to the theory. Moreover, the family is commonly blamed as the source of the problem as indicated by Dr. Ellis and Dr. Velten:

A variation of the Disease Theory that “explains” your current disturbances and addictions is “the Family Disease of Alcoholism” and similar notions that our past and our family make you do the bad things you do today. The Adult Child, codependency, and Inner Child movements have now invented an all-purpose “cause” of anything you do badly, namely, “I come from a Dysfunctional Family.” This supposedly makes you a near-hopeless addict. [2]

Granted, my family indulged on weekends, but I don’t consider us to have been dysfunctional. There was stable parentage: no divorce, no abuse, and sufficient provisions such as money, food, clothes, and transportation. Yet my brother went off the deep end with alcohol. Conversely, even though we were raised in the same family, I managed to overcome my alcoholic indulgence. Therefore, blaming one’s parents, even though they may have not been perfect, should not be the reason to abuse alcoholic beverages nor illicit drugs. Therefore, I discount the established belief that the disease is spread genetically—from parents to their offspring.

Dr. Ellis and Dr. Velten also quoted D. Lester, who came to the following conclusion about the genetic disease theory: “Biologist and geneticists, however, tend to see the evidence for biological contributions as slim.” [3] Simply stated, the AA disease theory when subjected to the scrutiny of the scientific methodologies of proof, simply doesn’t hold up.

To cap off this topic I have included a quote from Charles Bufe: “There is no treatment, medical or otherwise, for addiction, for there is no disease.” [4]

Glenn Turner

While attending programming school in Poughkeepsie, I was seduced into Dare to Be Great, a rich-quick scheme founded by the then fast-talking huckster, Glenn Turner. Turner promoted a motivational scam built on a pyramid principle that eventually bilked thousands of folks out of over forty-four million dollars. His con was based on positive thinking and his knack to entice others into lusting for his monetary level of success. [5]

In spite of my initial reluctance to participate in what I first perceived to be an obvious scam, I eventually succumbed to their seductive scheme. I was consistently bombarded with repetitive “group think”—slogans and jargons of positive reinforcement—such as, “Ain’t it great! Get that check! Stay jacked up! And Go! Go! Go!” It took several days for me to become indoctrinated. During that time, other methods of group think were sleep deprivation, continual hyped up meetings with fake testimonies, tempting us with reasons to covet Turner’s success, and continual escorts to discourage interfacing with other recruits.

On the third day of the retreat I finally gave in, due to mental and physical exhaustion. I had fallen in lockstep with their group coercion and regimental conditioning. After reluctantly surrendering a $500 check, I was encouraged to recruit others in order to keep the pyramid scheme maintained. Moreover, this tactic is used to discourage any doubt by causing the newcomer to profess the validity of group doctrines to others. Since I had already given up my check and was assumed to be in cahoots with them, attention was diverted from me to other new recruits. Meanwhile, I was surprised at how easily I flipped. I had become one of them; however, that wouldn’t last long, since once I returned to my daily routines I drifted away and gradually returned to my senses. It was like the brainwashing effect had worn off.

French Connection Bust

To cap off: Although not a religious cult per say, the tactics used by the organization were just as manipulative. Oh, by the way: I was fortunate not to have gotten collared by Popeye Doyle, who was busting dudes during that time for sitting on the edge of the bed in Poughkeepsie and picking their feet–a habit I was guilty of.

Testimonies and Thoughts

Following is a testimony from Bernice, an alias used by a former member of AA:

Why did I stay so long in AA? Fear, desperation, and a very powerful force which I later learned to be a form of mind control. After leaving, I read several books on cults and psychological manipulation, and learned that the AA theology is replete with contradictions and circular logic which sever to make the program look perfect, and that AA employs many devices for psychological and emotional control which are characteristic of the ones used by cults. The more rigidly one works the program, the more powerful the mind-control effect. [6]

Following is a testimony from Belinda, an alias used by a former member of AA:

One of the ways AA is similar to cults is the doctrine of 90 meetings in 90 days. I felt that in those 90 days I was torn apart so I might be rebuilt. Really, I was torn apart not just so I could get sober, but so I could be controlled and learn not to think for myself. [7]

Rational thought in the program is discouraged by statements such as, “stinkin’ thinkin,’” “Keep it simple, stupid” and “It was your best thinking that got you here.” The following statement by Trimpey attests to this:

AA veterans, therefore, will be very in urging newcomers to surrender reason to faith. In AA, one’s attempts to reason are commonly regarded as “part of the disease alcoholism” in the sincere hope that, by surrendering to some higher authority or group mentality, one will change for the better. [8]

This demoralizing treatment is a unanimous practice of mind-control utilized by cults. The new recruit is considered incapable of exercising good judgment. On the contrary, any disagreement or disbelief is considered denial and poor judgment.

Personally, the consistent ramblings at meetings about helplessness and AA being the only proven means of recovery, was perceived by me as resulting in nothing but a sad state of affairs.

Margaret Singer

As a former Cult Buster, I participated in cult conferences coordinated by the Spiritual Counterfeits Project in the ’80s along the California coast—Berkeley, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. We were tagged participants in the Berkeley Christian Coalition. Some notable partakers were Brooks Alexander, Ron Enroth, Steve Hassan, Elliot Miller, James Sire, Margaret Singer, (pictured above) and other distinguished players. During those days the popular tags for our labors were cult watchers and witch hunters. Our prime motive was to share cult indoctrination techniques, and the means to counteract them and inform others of their strategies. The late madam Singer—who is known for her studies of Chinese brainwashing techniques during the ’50s—has been deceased since 2003.

Following is a brief of her credentials taken from her publication: “Cults in Our Midst:”

Singer's Book

Margaret Singer is a clinical psychologist and emeritus adjunct professor of the Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley. She received her Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology from the University of Denver, and she has been a practicing clinician, researcher, and teacher for nearly fifty years. . . . Over the years Singer has counseled and interviewed more than three thousand current and former cult members. [9]

Since Mrs. Singer did not conclude that AA is a cult, this may be due to the widely accepted social influence of the program as stated by Charles Bufe:

Through it, AA exerts tremendous influence in American Society; and AA ideology pervades several important social institutions. Through its member and supporters, AA/12 step ideology has great influence in the mass media, legal profession, medical profession, judicial system, penal system, and, above all, in the addictions treatment system. [10]

To document her reasoning, I’ve included the following excerpt from her book:

From time to time I will also hear someone compare cults to an organization like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or some other group with a charismatic leader. Again, it is not the one feature—namely a charismatic leader or adherence to a particular belief system—that cults may share with another group that is crucial; rather, it is the differences that are important. AA does not recruit deceptively, AA does not hide what membership eventually will entail, and members can leave at any point. AA focuses on helping people grow, while cults use their members to promote the growth of the cult and increases the cult leader’s power and wealth. Cults are complex structures, and by taking any one point out of context, we can lose sight of the whole. [11]

Out of all due respect for the former Denverite, I beg to differ with her analysis of AA in regards to its cultic nature. Some may say, “Who am I to challenge her rationality?” Therefore, to support my convictions, I have included my arguments in the “Reply” row for each of her three itemized statements about thought-reform in the following ordered list. Her lead-in to this reasoning is stated as follows: “The tactics of a though-reform program are organized to . . .” [12]

• Singer: Destabilize a person’s sense of self

• Reply: Members are made to believe their lives are totally out of control and worthless without the program.

• Singer: Get the person to drastically reinterpret his or her life’s history and radically alter his or her worldview and accept a new version of reality and causality

• Reply: Members are told they’re the subject of an incurable disease that was genetically derived from their parents. They are also taught that in reality, they will become a causality of their addiction—jails, institutions, or death.

• Singer: Develop in the person a dependence on the organization, and thereby turn the person into a deployable agent of the organization

• Reply: Members are indoctrinated to depend on the organization for survival. The second part of this tactic is not applicable; since members volunteer with meeting functions and sponsorship; thus they are not deliberately deployed.

Moving forward: Singer has six conditions required for thought reform. I’ve included the last four here, because I consider them to be relative to my argument. Similar to the previous table, each condition is respectively followed by my response. The following statement is the lead-in to her analysis:

The following conditions create the atmosphere needed to put though-reform processes into place. The degree to which these conditions are present increases the level of restrictiveness enforced by the cult and the overall effectiveness of the program. [13]

• Singer:Create a sense of powerlessness, fear, and dependency

• Reply: The first step states: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable. Fear is injected when members are told that they are destined to die if the program teachings are ignored. Members are indoctrinated to depend on the program, or else.

• Singer: Suppress old behavior and attitudes

• Reply: Twelve 12 step indoctrination is intended to inculcate members into abandoning their own rationality and turn to the teachings and life-style of the program.

  Singer: Instill new behavior and attitudes

• Reply: Same as the previous.

  Singer: Put forth a closed system of logic

• Reply: Participating in the program is a framework for life that requires acceptance of the Big Book, the 12 steps and support of the group. Activities, relationships and beliefs outside of the program are considered to be hindrances to coping with an addiction and life’s challenges.

The following statement is taken from her section of the book titled: Definitions and Characteristic:

I prefer to use the phrase “cultic relationships” to signify more precisely the purpose and interactions that go on in a cult. A cultic relationship is one in which a person intentionally induces others to become totally or nearly totally dependent on him or her for almost all major life decisions, and inculcates in these followers a belief that he or she has some special talent, gift, or knowledge.

For our purposes, the label cult refers to three factors:

• Singer: The origin of the group and role of the leader

• Reply:Bill Wilson established the group and the belief system.

• Singer: The power structure, or relationship between the leader (or leaders) and the followers

• Reply: Even after the demise of Wilson and Bob, advocates of the program still uphold their tales and teachings as incontestable. Currently, the authority of sponsors is only significant as deemed by the one under sponsorship.

• Singer: The use of a coordinated program of persuasion (which is called thought reform, or, more commonly, brainwashing)

• Reply: The philosophy and aphorisms of the program are employed as forms of mental manipulations: such as: “Keep coming back, it works if you work it,” “Sit down, shut up and listen,” “You have to give it away in order to keep it,” and many more.

Despite her distinguished reputation, the labors of Professor Singer have not been accepted by everyone in her field, as can be attested by the following statement from Religious Freedom Watch:

Margaret Singer was a psychologist whose theories of so-called “cultic coercive persuasion” have been discredited by her own profession. The American Psychological Association (APA) rejected these theories as lacking scientific foundation. . . . Several courts have forbidden Singer to testify as an expert on these theories because, as one court stated: “her coercive persuasion theory did not represent a meaningful concept.” . . . . In 1991, in the case of Patrick Ryan v. Maharishi Yogi, the U.S. District Court in D.C. applying a looser standard than the Fishman case, still found that Singer’s theories lacked acceptance in the scientific community. [14]

The purpose for the previous quotes is not to deliberately malign the reputation of Singer, but to recognize that all of her findings are not accepted as being factual by others who evaluate behavior modification techniques. To cap-off my analysis, I contend that she was either persuaded by the endorsements of AA by social institutions, or maybe she was too naïve to discern the philosophies and inner workings of the AA treatment process. Nevertheless, I still respect her lifelong labors in the field of psychological manipulations.

The God Connection

Many organizations and personnel aim at discrediting the religious angle of AA and other 12 step programs as the prime reason for labeling them cults. However, as previously mentioned, I primarily discredit the psychological manipulations rather than the religious angle. In addition, the results of my judgments are based on the core doctrines of biblical Christianity. I contend that Wilson was on the right track during the early days of AA; however, concessions were soon made to unbelievers about their use of the word “God.” The steps were changed to include statements such as “a Power greater than ourselves” and “God as we understood Him.” It is these statements that members draw on to justify their choice of a “Higher Power” being a door knob, a bedpan, or the group for instance. Since I had been a long standing Christian at the time, I was totally turned off when I first heard these concepts at AA meetings. [See Serenity Prayer page.]

These whims are conjured up nonchalantly when members reject the divinity of God. Rather than acknowledge the God of the universe, they seek some false outlandish concept, thing, or person(s) in an attempt to fulfill the promptings of their gnawing conscience. The conviction of a belief in a divine being is traditionally unacceptable to most of mankind. For instance, the cult of Scientology promotes vague doctrines of God. Moreover, man would rather accept the theory of the Big Bang, evolution, and the spontaneous beginning of life from some pool of primordial muck. In our North American society, most folks are familiar with the second commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Deuteronomy 5:7) Another biblical text states: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) [See Scientology concept of God page.]

It is worth mentioning, that anyone reading these scriptures should consider the seriousness of what has been stated. Rather than promote additional biblical expositions that many would find debatable, I have elected to surrender these truths to the reader for consideration, especially for those who remain doubtful about God’s existence. One must be reminded that absurd depictions of God are considered blasphemous; and unless the notion is abandoned, one is playing dice with their eternal soul.

Entrances to Eternity

During the early days of Bill Wilson’s struggle with alcohol benders, he participated in the Oxford Group Movement. The group was an evangelical Episcopal organization that sought to revitalize the mood of the ancient church. The instructions inherited from the Oxford Group were the traditional evangelical belief that men are essentially powerless to solve their own problems; and only intervention from God is required for a sufficient resolution. It was the teachings of this group that addressed the problems of drunks seeking sobriety. Drawing on these established teachings, Wilson also adopted the practice of confession of “wrong doings” for others as a way of alleviating guilt and soul purification. It is interesting to note that Wilson never acknowledged the source of the 12 steps as being traceable to the Oxford Groups.

During his involvement with the Oxford Group, Wilson had an alleged spiritual experience. While in a state of depression and absolute surrender, he professed to have challenged God to show Himself. His assertion that a divine epiphany had made its presence was similar to the encounters professed by self-appointed prophets such as: Joseph Smith, Muhammad, and numerous other cult founders. Since I wasn’t there during this controversial visitation, I must hold it as highly suspect. On the more positive and believable side, Wilson proclaimed to have had instantaneous and everlasting deliverance from alcohol. I maintain that this claim is less contestable; since there are multitudes of Christians that testify to being delivered after similar states of desperation and prayer, including myself; however, without the epiphany.

Typical Mind Control

Conclusion

Many advocates of 12 step programs have claimed deliverance from their addictive behavior. They stay active in the programs by attending meetings and volunteering as secretaries and sponsors. Despite the tremendous influence of 12 step programs on society—specifically the medical community and judicial system—this doesn’t detract from their known methods of behavior modification and bondage.

In the meantime, if you gotta problem with any of this, don’t just sit there and trip, go Blog me. You should get it off your chest.

On the other hand, if you happen to agree with most of this, don’t just sit there and grin, go Blog me anyway. Or just go Contact Me.