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Sonny Boy Thompson
12 Step AnalystGood Reading 1
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Berean Research Ministry
An evangelical Christian ministry. This site is over 13 months old, and includes an analysis of 12 step mind manipulative procedures.
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Feb 03, 2012 @ 12:50:08
This a simple test from the webmaster.
Apr 10, 2012 @ 20:42:45
I’ve seen your take on 12-Step programs, coming out of other peoples’ mouths for the past 25 years. I recognize that the 12 Steps don’t work for you, and that’s fine. But I think referring to an organization that requires of its members no financial support or evangelizing or even loyalty is a bit ignorant. You’re mistaking normal social pressures (that we are all free to capitulate to or resist) for control and a handful of Big-Book-thumping zealots for a representative sample. Good luck to you, sir.
Apr 11, 2012 @ 10:04:59
Thank you, sir, and I apologize for the harsh tone of my reply. You’ve been very gracious in yours. We all have things to learn from each other, including me, and I forget that sometimes. Thank you for being thoughtful about recovery. Hope you are well.
May 31, 2012 @ 11:37:23
Comment: Hello Mr. Thompson. I found your blog through your profile page on webmaster forum. (v7n or whatever it’s called). Were you an addict or alcoholic? I’ve read a few of your posts now and you seem to know a little bit about the 12 steps and all. I went through a stage in my life where I drank quite a bit. It was affecting my life and I had become physically dependent on it. My wife (now ex) was attending the family of alcoholic meetings (Alanon or something like that), she had seen our new neighbors car there several times as there was AA meetings across the hall. To make a long story short, I didn’t know what to do, my mind was racing, my hands trembling and I sent my wife to get the neighbor. I had no one to talk to and felt somewhat scared. To make a long story short, I started attending meetings on a regular basis, on and off for several months, went to several different inpatient programs at various hospitals to “dry out” etc. It was a rough road. I honestly think, at the time, the meetings did help keep me sober for a while. However, I totally agree with you in being DOOMED as an alcoholic or druggy all of your life! I haven’t been to a meeting in a couple years, but remain sober. I feel it was a stage in my life and not a terminal illness, like they would have you believe. I’m not even sure my point in emailing you this but just felt the urge to share my story. haha Thanks for reading.
Jun 09, 2012 @ 06:37:25
Thank you both for the exchange you had. In it, I see both the need to discuss “the God thing”, and the passions the discussions stir up – tempered by the language of the heart shared by recovering drunks and addicts. I feel guilt even for struggling sometimes with the God idea after 20 years sober, so its a bit of a relief to find anyplace where it can be discussed openly and without too much harsh judgement.
Jun 09, 2012 @ 07:24:15
The more I look into this, the more confused I get. 12 Step . . . Non 12 Step . . .Religion . . . No Religion . . . Moderation . . . No moderation. I still maintain the Christian angle; however, I need to open up to other’s views and respect them, without total compromise. I hope I’ve said this right,
Jun 15, 2012 @ 09:46:34
Errors of Alcoholics Anonymous:
The Twelve Steps are a circular staircase of self-absorption, defeat, and despair, especially for believers in Christ who think that it takes twelve more steps beside – believe on Him and receive Him — to be saved and live. I am convinced that Alcoholics Anonymous is more cult than ever, and that Life in Christ is better that recovery — it is regeneration!
Jun 15, 2012 @ 09:57:15
Schaper, thanks for your blog. I’m posting your webpage here. http://errorsofaa.blogspot.com
Jun 27, 2012 @ 17:24:46
Comment: I have read your article and agree with everything you stated. My husband joined AA nearly 2 years ago and has just started individual therapy for his depression , mood swings and generally weird behavior. After being in the program 11 months he left me and our children to move back with his mother who I believe abused him as a child which may be the reason he drank in the first place. I recently found out he had a three month affair while we were separated and my children and I were in the process of being evicted. We are now living with my mother until I can save enough money to get an apartment. I was a stay at home mom through our marriage and depended on him for support. We got back intouch last month and started to see each other again and talk about working things out even after learning about his infedelity . His take on that is we were separated at the time so it was not cheating, how convenient. Now he just started therapy with a counselor who told him to put the brakes on our reconciliation ,and he is doing just that. Sorry to ramble on but I really believe he has been brainwashed and there is no amount of logic I can use to sway him. Just looking for some feedback….I am heartbroken and despise that cult so much. Thanks for listening. Sincerely Jeannine R
Jun 27, 2012 @ 17:44:40
The counselor you mention is most likely a 12 step sponsor–one who is put in the position of lording over a 12 step participant. As you mentioned, he’s been brainwashed to accept the sponsor as his commander-in-chief–one who has all knowledge and understanding. This blind allegiance is detrimental to the domestic security of your family. Maybe you should get on his case about child support, then see what his lord tells him then. .
Jul 15, 2012 @ 21:50:25
Enjoyed the read very much and you are well versed as well as knowledgable. I’ve been researching the AA lies for about 1.5 year after getting out after a 5 year participation. I was miserable during that time and unable to get clean. I believe I was about half brain washed, never accepting the disease theory or that I was powerless but scared if I didn’t continue I’d die. Although we disagree with some of the history (who agrees on everything right?) I think you are spot on with the rest. A bunch of us have been involved in a recoverying from recovery forum which also has a chat room for more private conversations. Please stop in and say hello, perhaps stay for a chat.
Jul 15, 2012 @ 22:02:19
Hi 12 Step Analyst
Please do excuse me as it’s quite late and I’ve only just scanned your site rather quickly. I agree with what you have to say and am so glad to see yet another AA critical site. It seems that more and more are popping up all the time. I will come back to this site at a later time to chat with you,
Have a great day!
causeandeffect
Jul 16, 2012 @ 12:00:33
TO Avo: I’ve registered into RecoveringfromRecovery.com Waiting for acceptance. Thanks for the invite.
Jul 16, 2012 @ 12:05:20
TO causeandeffect: Please do come back causeandeffect. I to am busy quite often, so I know what you mean.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 11:39:52
Hi Earl,
I’m so pleased to see you have joined our community and I’ve been told you have been accepted! Very often the followers of the AA faith accuse anyone who is AA critical of being an atheist, as if the “religious” angle is the only reason one would have to reject AA. Some of us are, some are not, but there are so very many reasons to reject AA, most notably its horrific failure rate.
It seems you have reached your own conclusions based on your experience as a cult buster. I was wondering, have you read the Orange Papers? When I first found them, I realized I was seeing the truth about AA, and it was a truth I had been rather unsuccessfully trying to avoid seeing. Having read the history, I feel that AA’s origins and Wilson’s motives are far more questionable than is widely known.
Brainwashing runs deep and is difficult to reverse. Even though I had misgivings about AA, when I first found the Orange Papers, I was afraid to leave. I did, however, find a community of people who had successfully left the cult and were remaining sober and they were a huge help to me. Unfortunately the site has closed down but it has opened back up for comments.
http://stinkin-thinkin.com/
I also posted on the Orange Papers forum, but unfortunately there are some very disturbed trolls there and our current community was started in an attempt to get away from these people so we can deprogram and help others to do the same without their constant derailing. Many of us post numerous places on the web, trying to get the word out.
And I’d like comment to Jeannine that what she is describing is not unusual. There have been numerous people who have found their significant other’s behavior to actually be worse after going to AA than it was when they were actively drinking. It seems the doctrine of alcoholics being liars, cheats and thieves encourages some to behave just that way.
Hope to see you posting on RecoveringfromRecovery soon! We would be very interested in any insight you can bring regarding deprogramming.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 13:43:40
causeandeffect:
I’m currently working on finishing up a book. Next week I’ll get active on RecoveringfromRecovery. Thank you for welcoming me to the community.
Folks just need to think for themselves. Be it religion, politics or business. Just look around and be aware and you’ll see what I’m talking about. People are so naive.
Sonny Boy
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Aug 06, 2012 @ 14:31:02
Cause and deffect, How do I submit an article for the newsletter? This address rfrnewsletter@gmail.com doesn’t work. I’ve got something ready to go.
Sonny Boy
Jul 17, 2012 @ 11:47:36
Oops, I almost forgot to ask. May I put a link to your site on our site? On the upside you may get more readers and possibly comments. On the downside, you may get some really nasty AA apologists, as they watch everything we do. Trust me, if you refuse, I will totally understand if you decline.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 13:22:29
TO: causeandeffect, I don’t mind. As a fact I welcome the link. As far as the 12 steppers who monitor me, as a former cult buster I’ve had run ins with some major mainline cults in the past. They don’t deter me none.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 15:05:50
Great! I’ll put it up here http://recoveringfromrecovery.com/archive/?page_id=151 as soon as I figure out how. Seems I’ve forgotten. LOL
Aug 06, 2012 @ 16:40:41
Sonnyboy, the newsletter has already been published, but feel free to post on the forum. I don’t believe the link was one that you can reply to.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 13:11:05
Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my website something like that. Can I include a portion of your post to my blog?
Aug 13, 2012 @ 08:46:45
Sure Jimmy. You can use the post. Sorry to be late getting back to you.
Aug 07, 2012 @ 13:21:56
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Sep 16, 2012 @ 17:21:18
As a graduate of the program and a current Certified Addictions Counselor II practicing at the outpatient portion of the Center of Hope, It doesn’t shock me when a former client bashes our inpatient program with claims of “cultist” activity. The fact is that we do not have a drug or alcohol problem, we have a God problem. Meaning that we do not have an intimate relationship with the God of all creation. As an addiction counselor and former 12 step program worker, I look at 12 steps as affirming your addiction, and living perpetually in a state of daily maintenance. When the fact is, that the power of God can heal you from the spirit of addiction, and catapult your life in Christ to that of living victoriously in transcendence. Knowing that you are healed and can move on in your life serving God and others while spreading the “Good news” of the Gospel that can set the captive free. We don’t get set free from our addictions for ourselves, but for every other person we come into contact with for the rest of our lives, giving a testimony of how God in His mercy and grace saved us from a life of total self-destruction. This program saved my life from the pit of addiction and alcoholism, and I know that the structure of the program has provided me the necessary tools to continue to live my life substance free. I thank God every day I am alive for Center of Hope. If it worked for me I know it can work for others.
Sep 16, 2012 @ 19:33:09
Jon, your comments are well taken. Thanks for taking the time to respond so extensively to Post #64 about the Center of Hope. As you realize, I have no problem with the spiritual component upon which the program is based. I even mention that this is just what the doctor ordered. Moreover, your defense of the program and statement that it has worked for your deliverance are well founded. From experience, I have observed that many consider their method of deliverance, no matter what road they have taken, to be superior to others. For instance, it’s similar to “The my church is better than yours syndrome.” It’s certain procedures used in the center and the strict use of ministry resources that I consider to be miserly. Out of respect for the center I chose not to detail these issues here for others to read. Obviously, you would most likely find these assessments to be debatable, which is your privilege. However, I maintain the conclusion to my analysis. By the way, I had read the story and testimony in Chavez’z paperback publication and was inspired. Any additional comments are welcomed.
Nov 21, 2012 @ 08:01:41
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Dec 02, 2012 @ 21:16:57
Thanks. Keep coming back. Check out Sonny Boy’s Story also.
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Dec 02, 2012 @ 21:16:29
Thanks. Keep coming back. Check out Sonny Boy’s Story also.
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Dec 02, 2012 @ 21:15:11
Thanks. Keep coming back. Check out Sonny Boy’s Story also.
Dec 02, 2012 @ 21:24:13
By the way, I’ve been blogging for about 13 months. Did I mention to also check out Sonny Boy’s Story?
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