On 2005-09-16 16:43:00, Antigen wrote:
"My big beef w/ the cult is that it's strongest proponants insist that it's not a cult while making public policy based on their dogma.
NA/AA/other forms of stepcraft have all of the earmarks of cults-- Religious orientation; irrationality; rigidity; dogmatism; anti-
intellectualism; a charismatic leader (Bill W[ilson]); a heirarchical authoritarian structure; submission of the individual will to "the will of God"; a claim to the ultimate truth; separitism
(us vs. the world mentality); exclusivity (only through us...); self-absorption (primary focus is on the cult itself); economic exploitation; going to great lengths to retain members; mind control techniques; intimidation; manipulation through guilt; threats of death (Big Book predicts it for dropouts and nonbelievers); harrassment; deceptive recruiting techniques; closed, all-encompassing environments (treatment centers where people are deprived of all non-cult reading material, contact with family or friends, or telephone access), etc.
AA/NA/Stepcraft-of-all-types are by the above standards, most definitely cults.