Alcoholics Anonymous is NOT a cult

I have no problem using the definitions. However, I would like my opponent to look closely at the article. "Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a "cult scale" or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool."(1) Clearly the article states that although these are usually defined in dangerous cults, this is not the only criteria that should be considered when determining if someone is in a cult or not. As i have stated before, I believe there are many benign, simple, peaceful religions, that many would categorize as cults. The Raelian church was a great example. However, these are still cults nonetheless and fall under the general definition. "I am not arguing whether AA can be viewed as religious to some. People choose their own conception of a Higher Power. Even atheist and agnostics can find a definition that works for them." Really. And what sort of "Higher power" could an atheist call upon, to which they are helpless against? "The Agnostic AA meetings have their own preamble, which is:" The agnostic AA meetings are different and separate than the AA meetings. The 12 steps, the core of the AA system, is completely void from the Agnostic AA system. One could call it a different "Sect" if you will. Again, none of what you have brought deny the fact that the "Higher power" is assumed to be God, nor the fact that any other religious organization that has been deemed a cult by one person or another, does not practice the same things. Rebuttal 1. "Besides, the practices of the 12 Steps are not mandatory. Again, the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. No one makes anyone do the 12 Steps." Again, no. When i am a christian, i do not have to attend church every sunday. It is not mandatory that i do so. Rebuttal 2. Again, there is nothing within the sects of christianity, for example, that force its members not to question their beliefs. In fact, Mother Teresa was famous for having doubts about her beliefs as well(2). Rebuttal 3. Although i do not consider the Agnostic AA groups, to be the same as the AA groups, Chanting is still apart of the AA group meetings. And furthermore, again, the checklist is a specific criterion for identifying dangerous cult activities. The actual definition of what a Cult is, still allows for the AA group to go under a heading of a "Cult". Rebuttal 4. Again, a warning sign for dangerous cult activities. Congratulations, AA does not have a cult leader. Although this is not a must, for something to be a dangerous cult, it is also not a must for being a cult in general, either. Rebuttal 5. As i have stated before(3), the original manuscript of the 12 steps, contain the word "God", blatantly, by the person who founded the organization in the first place. ", but I do not believe that my answer or your question is relevant to the debate, since it has nothing to do with the definition/criteria of a cult." Actually, it does. A cult is defined as "reverence and homage to divine beings". Clearly, a higher power, that is assumed to be God, is an extremely important criteria for determining if an organization is a cult. So i ask the question again. What is the first thing that comes into your, or anyones mind, when the word "Higher power" is mentioned? "There are such conceptions as ‘Creative Intelligence, Universal Mind, or Spirit of Nature, God, and so much more." And i would consider all those to be religious. Rebuttal 8. Since my opponent agrees with me, i suppose this is a concluded point. Rebuttal 11. "Since members are not preoccupied with recruiting new members, they surely do not meet the criteria of a cult, thus AA is not a cult." Are you saying that AA is not actively seeking to help other people, via advertisement or any other public forum? In conclusion, the thorns of the rose are in the article itself. Nowhere in the original article does it state that these are the only criterions for determining if a religious organization or any organization, is a cult. Only that these are hints, and that these point to whether or not an organization could be a DANGEROUS cult. And this is the point i was trying to make. None of these criterions need not apply, for an organization to be a cult. Although my opponent was quick to avoid answering the question of "What is the first thing that comes to mind when the word "Higher power" is mentioned", possibly because he knows the answer already, my only conclusion as to why my opponent refuses to answer this question is because he knows he will have to admit that the "Higher power" is pointing to a God, thus, making AA a religious, and a cult-like group. Source: 1. http://www.csj.org... 2. http://en.wikipedia.org... 3. http://www.aa.org...