Robby, I may have had my point of freedom come across wrong. For this particular person, he is not in a place where he has freedom, but fear. That is what makes me sad.
I truly do not ever mean to bash A.A. I have seen it benefit many, I'm just not one of them. I don't want to come across as a "My way or no way" type of person. I am not. I am very big on what works for the individual.
MyCoolFitz, Buddhism is something that has always had a draw to me. I've been reading more about it in the past year and have found three places close to me that offer classes and meditations. I am going to try to get to one or two.