Quotes from Charles Bufe

INCEST, n. In many parts of the Bible Belt, the most popular form of dating

On December 11,1934, Wilson's drinking came to a screeching halt. On that day he was readmitted to Towns Hospital, sedated, and subjected to Dr. Silkworth's "belladonna cure," a treatment regimen which included morphine and other psychoactive drugs in addition to belladonna (which in large doses is a powerful hallucinogen).5 While under the influence of the "cure," Bill Wilson experienced his "spiritual awakening.

There's a huge difference between stating that you have a problem and are going to do something about it, and stating that you have a problem and are "powerless" to do anything about it.

In short, the first step leads to low self-esteem, learned helplessness, personal irresponsibility, and binge drinking. The first step is a step toward disaster; it has no redeeming features.

As well, the very religiosity of step 2 is a major problem for many persons. Like steps 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11, step 2 refers to "God," "Him," or "a Power greater than ourselves." (Note the capitalization.) This poses obvious problems for those who believe that the existence of God is no more likely than the existence of Mother Goose.

God would reveal "Himself to anyone who would "listen," and that "He" had a minutely detailed plan for every human life. The sheer chutzpah of this belief is positively breathtaking. It's the most grandiose excuse imaginable for the evasion of individual thought, responsibility, and decision making.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

In sum, the 12 steps are not a road to recovery, let alone the road to recovery. They are, instead, a road to a substitute dependency—a dependency upon AA rather than upon alcohol.