In contemporary America many people are looking for the "easy way" to spirituality through step-by-step religions that seem to solve their problems for them, especially people who suffering from something like alcoholism or are lacking something in their lives. These people are easy targets for many New Age cults posing as religious or "spiritual" groups. One so-called expression of spirituality that has been popular for over sixty years is Alcoholics Anonymous. One way to classify this organization is to call it a "self-help group with a strong spiritual foundation," but it would be more appropriate to designate it a religion if not a cult for its lack of success in the self-help realm and most of the beliefs for which it is built on. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the history and material expressions of spirituality evident in A.A. and how they are related to the ideas held by David Morgan in his book Visual Piety, but more importantly I would also like to discuss how this group that describes itself as "spiritual, not religious," is indeed a cult-like religion that has merely designated God as the "Higher Power" and alcohol as the devil or sins. "The twelve steps are not a formula for curing or treating alcoholism, they are twelve steps for exploiting alcoholics' troubles. They are twelve steps for starting a new evangelical proselytizing cult religion" (Agent Orange, May 2002). It is a way to brainwash already weak and struggling individuals into believing in this religion. Alcoholics Anonymous is a cult religion in which the only way one can "beat the devil" is through complete submission to God AND the program, which leads to complete dependency and therefore whatever the program says will dictate the lives of its patrons.
             Depending on one's opinion of Alcoholics Anonymous, the historical beginnings can be described differently...