What I got from AA is the process of change that occured within me while doing the 12 steps. I haven't read this thread in it's entirety but for a whole lot of us the program provides a process for change.
Anyone who does an honest 4th step with a good sponsor is gonna come out ahead of their game. If you believe you are drinking or using yourself to death because of "others" or "your past" or "because you can" and you are ready to change THEN these steps provide a process that is an archtype for moving on with no regrets especially for your past.
As an atheist this has been my experience and it is positive!!
Believeing in a god has nothing to do with the archtype of spiritual change. We are spirits, we have psyches and sometimes we need to be guided out of our self imposed darkness. It's got nothing to do with God. It's got everything to do with faith. Big book thumpers have what they want.. the word "God". I got what I wanted and that was the courage to change.