Is alcoholic anonymous a brain washing cult,....?

Yes, it is a controlling cult. I do not like the term 'brain-washing', but certainly it aims to make its adherents dependent upon it, as those who have met some of its victims can testify.

It also spreads unscientific and dangerous medical misinformation, and some of its members behave unethically when employed in positions where they can promote these ideas. Paramedics for example should not be allowed to work unsupervised if they have links to the cult.

Sure doesn't seem like it to me, (although I've never attended their meetings, due to never having had any sort of drinking problem of my own), but I'm sure your mileage may vary... They do talk about admitting your own helplessness, and relying on some sort of higher power in order to recover. (Although it doesn't have to be God, exactly.. Could be ANYTHING higher, whether you choose to define it as God or not. Like love, for instance..?) :)

Guess it's just the sort of thing that's bound to be a good fit for SOME people, and bound to be a very bad fit for certain other people. And I guess, the more resistant you are to spirituality, and to the whole notion of "something higher", the worse of a fit it will be for you. The more you rely on being in control, and using what you perceive to be your own separate ego, and your own sense of willpower, in order to recover, the worse of a fit it will be for you. So.. I totally get why a whole lot of atheists might be better off searching for other options.. There should be completely secular programs as well, in my opinion. But... it's kind of a far stretch to call AA a brainwashing cult, just because you might not agree with their methods. They're not trying to brainwash people, or threaten them, or in any sense cut them off from their surroundings, by demonizing the rest of the world! So.. if you want to call that a cult, you could call pretty much ANY spiritual practice a cult! Which kind of makes the word lose its meaning, don't you think..? :)

Yes, but If works then it's worth the trade-offs.

btw, Brain washing does seems to help manage Alcoholism.

It's dogmatic, but a cult is centered around a charismatic leader, which AA is not. The founders of AA are regarded with reverence, but not worship.

Like any other organizations ignorant people called "brain washing cults", not to anyone who knows anything about it.

My biggest complaint about AA is that you have to believe in a higher power. In that regard, it is a bit of a cult.

"alcoholic's anonymous" is a joke the first thing they get you to do is tell everyone your name

please note i am joking they do great work

exploiting vulnerable people with emotional weakness......

No