like the analogies used, one to the human body, and one to an org. with similarities, Alcoholics. Anon.
f NA
I haven’t read this yet (look forward to doing so) but I’ve always said the similarities between AA , NA etc and watchtower are striking. Essentially because AA is a cult (all the ‘annonymous’es are derivatives of AA and based on its principals). Although there has been some recent attempts to remove the religious aspect from NA, replacing it with ‘spirituality,’ no rational person is seriously going to consider an effective higher power as their motorbike🤣 (although if it raises your social standing it does in effect work that way since both groups share utility for the member as social clubs primarily).
Most people assume AA shares similarities to mainstream religion in such things as it’s tradition of confession. But the confession of AA is not like the Catholic confession because, and here youll begin to see the connection with watchtower, NA confessions will essentially end in judgement, removal from the group and shunning. Of course they will both deny this, since you may still attend “meetings”....but no one of note will associate with you and the group pressure ensures these rules are strictly maintained. Anyone who ignores these social norms will find themselves on the end of the same treatment! Oh but there is one difference connected with this behaviour - NA will claim its ‘a selfish programme’ whereas Witnesses will claim they do it out of ‘love’.
Another nasty aspect they both share is a very subtle pressure to leave a spouse who ‘enables’ you, ie was supportive of you before you got with the programme or you were a worldly, even if that spouse has loyally been by your side for many years.
Edit although the research tends to show AA is not very effective at keeping people clean, most of us know people who have been saved by both AA or Watchtower. Having said that, as time progresses we are developing more effective and more humane ways of keeping people healthy and safe through the ravages of addiction,