Originally Posted by
historyteach 
And if you believe all advertisements are true, you're in for a very frustrating life.
Abb was not saying (as I understand him) that all advertisements are true, but that they *should* be true, and that while AA advertises itself with the words "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking..." it would be closer to the truth to say "The only requirements for membership are a desire to stop drinking and a belief in a Higher Power along the lines laid out by the majority in the fellowship. Otherwise get lost." Your post pretty much shows him to be right.
Originally Posted by
historyteach As I said, it's a free country.
Used like that, that phrase "it's a free country" always translates as "my way or the highway". Ain't much "shalom" in that...