I would argue that regardless of whether or not someone attends AA meetings, we cannot know exactly WHAT IT IS that is 'keeping someone sober.' One could argue that willpower and a decision to simply stop ruining one's own life and that attending AA is simply a byproduct of that decision.
I would have to favor CBT over AA personally because it is based on real science and is updated as new information is discovered. And SMART Recovery provides CBT based techniques and practices to help people stay sober and it is completely free, so that point is moot.
If one really cares to do some research, you will find that most claim that AA is just as effective as any other method of staying sober. And in these studies I would argue that willpower and a decision to stop destroying one's own life is more of a factor than anything, hence the consistency of 'success' in individuals despite the method used to obtain sobriety. At least that's what makes sense to me.
I do believe AA is great for those who can make it work for them. And while some people I know who are atheist have found success in AA, others I know have also claimed that there are many logical loopholes to jump through in order for them to make sense of AA. I suppose it's up to the individual.
I would have to favor CBT over AA personally because it is based on real science and is updated as new information is discovered. And SMART Recovery provides CBT based techniques and practices to help people stay sober and it is completely free, so that point is moot.
If one really cares to do some research, you will find that most claim that AA is just as effective as any other method of staying sober. And in these studies I would argue that willpower and a decision to stop destroying one's own life is more of a factor than anything, hence the consistency of 'success' in individuals despite the method used to obtain sobriety. At least that's what makes sense to me.
I do believe AA is great for those who can make it work for them. And while some people I know who are atheist have found success in AA, others I know have also claimed that there are many logical loopholes to jump through in order for them to make sense of AA. I suppose it's up to the individual.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
