Episode 1127: Is A.A. a Cult? Will You Always Be Recovering?Episode 1127: Is A.A. a Cult? Will You Always Be Recovering?
Take 12 Recovery Radio
IS A.A. A CULT and WILL WE ALWAYS BE RECOVERING? In this episode, we answer the question, "Is A.A...
1:15:19•31 Aug 2026
Is A.A. a Cult and Can You Truly Be Recovered?
Episode Overview
- Calling A.A. a cult is challenged using both formal definitions and practical experience, noting that A.A. does not control members’ lives or money.
- The hosts explain that A.A. literature explicitly uses the term "recovered" and describes the problem as having been removed for those who have had a spiritual awakening.
- A clear distinction is made between being medically and spiritually recovered from addiction and still needing daily spiritual growth and vigilance.
- Personal stories highlight the shift from dependence on meetings, steps and prayers themselves to dependence on God as the actual source of power.
- Both sides of the debate agree that stopping the substance isn’t enough; ongoing fellowship, humility, helping others and honest self-examination remain essential.
“Recovered doesn't have to mean you're finished.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation on Take 12 Recovery Radio tackles two huge questions many people in recovery wrestle with: "Is A.A.
a cult?" and "Will you always be recovering, or can you actually be recovered?" You’ll hear Monty, Roger McDermott and Pastor Rob Gehrig break down what people mean when they call Alcoholics Anonymous a cult, using real comments and clips from social media, including a balanced response from Aidan P on TikTok. They weigh those opinions against dictionary definitions and their own long-term experience in Twelve Step recovery and church ministry, highlighting that A.A.
doesn’t take your money, doesn’t isolate you and doesn’t have a controlling leader. The heart of the episode is the distinction between being "in recovery" and being "recovered". The team walk through key ideas from A.A. literature, like the statement that the problem "has been removed" and the phrase "recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body". They argue that you can be medically and spiritually restored from addiction while still needing daily spiritual growth and honest self-reflection.
Pastor Rob brings a theological angle, linking addiction to the wider issue of the sin nature and talking about justification and sanctification in everyday language. Monty shares a personal turning point, realising "there was no power in my prayers" until he stopped depending on the method and started depending on the One he was praying to. Roger underlines that for him, recovery became secure when his relationship with God deepened and his purpose became clear.
The episode closes with Jeff Bates’ song "One Second Chance" and a reminder that both "always recovering" and "recovered" viewpoints agree on one thing: stopping the substance isn’t enough; ongoing spiritual growth, fellowship and humility really matter. How do you see your own journey – always recovering, recovered, or still figuring it out?
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