Hi Mjs,
AA has it's own culture and language and has a real new religious movement feel to it, IMO, but there really isn't anything to be afraid of. Nobody is going to force anything on you. However, there are plenty that will tell you that if you don't accept AA doctine, you won't make it. And some can be very condescending about it. It's a tough spot to be in, when you just want some peer support, and 12-Step based groups are the only option. I've never been to a SMART meeting, but I've been to a few LifeRing meetings in CA.
What happened at that last meeting?
DK