I saw this search on the stats page that said, “Why has AA become watered down?” Lol. Actually, to me, it is quite obvious, and the reason is systemic. Watered down AA is the result of a macro decline in our culture. Collectivism, so to speak, is now mainstream in America and with it comes moral relativity, division, as well as social, economic and cultural decay. We live in an America today that seeks to take God out of everything. Everywhere you look there is now a secular alternative to everything that was once founded in God, such as AA.

     Remind me again what was so offensive about humility?

     Alcoholics Anonymous was a spiritual program of action. The point wasn’t even alcohol (or drugs). The point was to rid our inner selves of the filth and poison that brought us down, to find God and establish an appropriate relationship with Him. AA laid out a series of actions to clean us out and help us grow along spiritual lines. The Big Book rightly stated that we have a life problem, a selfishness problem, a spiritual problem. “Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us!” – Alcoholics Anonymous, p.62.

     Rarely have truer words been spoken, as it is not alcohol and drugs that ail us. The very thing that weighs us down, narrows our world, chains us in darkness and cripples us with fear and cowardice has nothing to do with alcohol or some brain disease. We have a different kind of poison inside, one that enslaves us until the very minute we decide to humble ourselves before our Maker. For alcoholics and drug addicts to be free, we must rid ourselves of this other kind of poison, one that taints not just our bodies, but our entire lives and everyone around us.

     Until we ignore the true malady behind alcoholism and drug addiction, there is no hope. Billions will be wasted on treatment that focuses on drugs and alcohol and all of the ensuing details like ‘triggers’ and other such nonsense, when drugs and alcohol have nothing to do with our true problem. That problem is spiritual. So next time you feel like patting yourself on the back for beating drug addiction, don’t. We didn’t beat anything. The only thing we’ve done is to stop hurting others and destroying ourselves spiritually.

     And please, don’t try to convince me otherwise because I know what I suffered from, what I did to myself, and how many people I hurt. The only cure for walking backwards is to start walking forward, and fast.

     And maybe run instead of walk.