Waching daily Sep 4 2017

Hello.

In this short video, I will explain why Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as A.A., is a religion,

based on the majority opinion of the New York Court of Appeals in the United States.

The court boldly stated, "Adherence to the A.A. fellowship entails engagement in religious

activity and religious proselytization."

What are those activities?

First, "followers are urged to accept the existence of God as a Supreme Being, Creator, Father

of Light and Spirit of the Universe."

"While A.A. literature declares an openness and tolerance for each participant's personal

vision of God ('as we understood Him'), the writings demonstrably express an aspiration

that each member of the movement will ultimately commit to a belief in the existence of a Supreme

Being of independent higher reality than humankind."

Second, "in 'working' the 12 steps, participants become actively involved in seeking such a

God through prayer, confessing wrongs and asking for removal of shortcomings."

Finally, "A.A.'s [book] 'Twelve Steps/Twelve Traditions' […] describ[es] the spiritual evolution

of atheists and agnostics through working the 12 steps."

The court quoted from the book, "In Step Three, we turned our will and our lives over

to the care of God as we understood Him.

For the time being, we who were atheist or agnostic discovered that our own group, or

A.A. as a whole, would suffice as a higher power.

[… However, later, based on many observations,] we could predict that the doubter [would eventually]

love God and call Him by name."

In conclusion, Merriam-Webster defines religion as "a system of religious attitudes, beliefs,

and practices."

Because Alcoholics Anonymous provides such a system of religious behavior, it is a

religion.

The transcript for this video and supporting links are in the description below.