I haven't read the book, yet, just a few reviews but it brings to mind this question?
I f addiction is "[b:34c7d9ebcd]a pattern of human behavior[/b:34c7d9ebcd]", how then is it a "[b:34c7d9ebcd]disease[/b:34c7d9ebcd]"?
And if it is "a [b:34c7d9ebcd]pattern of behavior[/b:34c7d9ebcd]" that pervades the whole of humanity at some level, why is it philosophically acceptable in our society, which prides itself on its powers of reason, to consider alcoholics and addicts so [b:34c7d9ebcd]morally bereft that a "spiritual" solution is the only answer, as is claimed by the literature of AA[/b:34c7d9ebcd]?
There are a lot of contradictions presented by the program of AA, and some out and out lies made when they try to rationalize them.
Within AA, I was told that these contradictions are actually [b:34c7d9ebcd]"paradoxes"[/b:34c7d9ebcd], another way, In my opinion, of mythologizing the dogma, making it into [b:34c7d9ebcd]"arcane and esoteric" knowledge[/b:34c7d9ebcd], meant for pondering by the philosophers, not for the little, common, everyday alkie to trouble himself with.
AA has an uncommon ability to ignore and vilify scientific research while claiming to adhere to it. [b:34c7d9ebcd]And the public doesn't want to look at this shortsightedness, because they have been to for so long that AA is the best and only way to cure the disease[/b:34c7d9ebcd].
([b:34c7d9ebcd]But wait,[/b:34c7d9ebcd] doesn't the recommended book call addiction a "pattern of human behavior"?
[b:34c7d9ebcd]Ah, must be one of "The Paradoxes" of the program![/b:34c7d9ebcd])
I do wish the moderators would answer my questions, as they told us previously that secular alternatives to AA are readily available.
Were they not told about these alternatives during their professional training in recovery models?
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[b:34c7d9ebcd]Perhaps this university course is representative of today's trends in training recovery professionals?[/b:34c7d9ebcd]
[
www.goou.ou.edu]
[b:34c7d9ebcd]A course syllabus from the University of Oklahoma:[/b:34c7d9ebcd]
Quote
[b:34c7d9ebcd]Course Description:[/b:34c7d9ebcd]
This course provides foundational knowledge for counseling chemically dependent
persons. Students will learn working definitions of substance abuse and will be introduced to intervention,
assessment, and treatment strategies. [b:34c7d9ebcd]Several models of substance abuse are presented[/b:34c7d9ebcd].
If you read the syllabus, howeber, you will see that the focus of the course is on the [b:34c7d9ebcd]disease concept[/b:34c7d9ebcd] of addiction and rehabilitation models based on this theory.
I posted a detailed selection of excepts from the syllabus on the "[b:34c7d9ebcd]Question for AA experts[/b:34c7d9ebcd]", under the topic "[b:34c7d9ebcd]Clergy and therapy abuse[/b:34c7d9ebcd]", for those who are interested.
[
board.culteducation.com]