Modernity and Fundamentalism dance to new facts about AA from the Great Britain 2020 Membership Survey

With or Without God: the latest Alcoholics Anonymous Membership Survey from Great Britain identifies how many members are religious vs. secular.  Episode 69 of Rebellion Dogs Radio  looks at our more enlightened understanding of AA members, at least a significant sample size surveyed this decade. The findings from the Great Britain 2020 AA Membership Survey + English Speaking Central Europe meetings have shared their experience and their understanding of how AA works for them. We look, more broadly, not only at this modernism movement that includes measurable assessment of AA members and AA life today, but we look at how progress is happening in AA. We look at AA maturity in the context of fundamentalism AND modernity, in AA. It is worth viewing both sides: what are the payoffs for those who embrace a strict orthodoxy and why and what do we need to change to better reach more of those who come to us with alcohol or other substance use disorder. Download or read a PDF transcript of Episode 69 of Rebellion Dogs Radio with links Every five years the Great Britain General Service Conferences surveys members to: carry the message to professionals, and  help inform the General Service Conference for future decision making. In 2020 members in Great Britain and English speaking Europe were asked: "Do you believe in a higher power?"Those who answered "yes" were asked: "Is your higher power religious or secular?" 35% of members hold a religious belief about higher power. 65% of members hold a secular belief about higher power. From there we ask how this might "inform the General Service Conference for future decision making," and how AA is doing overall in the first two decades of Century 21 in balancing the need to modernize AA and the resistance to change felt by fundamentalist AAs.   Our musical feature (Pictured Above) is a Toronto/NYC trio called ON, with their new song "Underdog."  Here are some links to items quoted and discussed.. A Newcomer Ask - second most read leaflet/pamphlet in all of AA originating in Great Britain https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/2020-Survey  https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Professionals/Interesting-Statistics  The 2020 Great Britain Membership survey YouGov 2020 survey of religiosity in Britain  Ernie Kurtz seven step program for research and reporting  Search back issues for group and member estimates (generally in Summer Issue each year of Box 459)  World Health Organization facts about alcohol 148 country comparison of religious adherence American belief in God through the years New York State Bill ensuring the right to irreligious drug/alcohol treatment The most recent USA/Canada membership survey Listen to "Overhaul?" from the December 2009 AA Grapevine CONCEPT V Throughout our world service structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, thus assuring us that minority opinion will be heard and that petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered. p. 207  Generous Orthodoxy and AA with Jackie B from Varieties of Secular Experiences 2021 Religious Fundamentalism Modulates Neural Responses to Error-Related Words: The Role of Motivation Toward Closure  Fanaticism is a disease like alcoholism (Psychology Today) https://www.britannica.com/topic/fundamentalism  AA Efficacy from 1955 Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, p. XX  Updated language in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (p. 66, and p. 117) A longitudinal study of the comparative efficacy of Women for Sobriety LifeRing, SMART, 12-step groups for those with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) -  Sara E Zemore et al  Rebellion Dogs favorite reading: David Best, (2019) Pathways to Recovery and Desistance: the role of the social contagion of hope, Bristol, Policy Press  Marya Hornbacher (2011) Waiting: A Nonbeliever's Higher Power William Schaberg (2019) Writing the Big Book: The Creation of AA  Bill Wilson's three years on know-how, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85  Fundamentalism is faith based in fear from The Daily Dish