People can say what they will negatively (some justified, some not) about the so-called "prosperity gospel" and the "believe you receive it," or "name it and claim it" or "blab it and grab it" crowd, but having been somewhat raised in that environment, and having subsequently seen problems with aspects of it, I still greatly value that it instilled in me a permanent consciousness of the words coming out of my mouth, and the power (however noticeably unapparent) attached thereto. I have some experience with "alcoholism," a couple DUI's and about 100 AA meetings. The "Hi, I'm so-and-so and I'm an alcoholic" irked me every time, not because I lack the humility to admit embarrassing shortcomings, but because I get no satisfaction out of KNOWINGLY digging deeper holes to reinforce their foundations.
I've had great success easily defeating "addictions" (comparatively, at least) to alcohol and smoking by making the conscious choice to joyfully confess my victory over them and go about my life believing what I said about myself and said victories OWNED. I've concluded it really is just one of many formulas (perhaps THE formula) inherent to natural laws governing our realm.
It's not a stretch to say AA is just exchanging an ugly type of slavery for a prettier version of it, but the deependant bond is still there, the key to freedom from the curse being dissuaded at the start of every meeting and repeatedly reinforced throughout whenever just about any new participant speaks up.
The "I am an addict" mandate could be turned into a Hannity "Let me interrupt you right there" meme placed at the middle or end of about a dozen Word of God promises I can think of off the top of my head that contradict said notion of permanent helplessness to the chains of addiction. As such, I view AA as the greatly preferable lesser of two evils, but evil nonetheless.
Tonight's unadulterated Bill Maher's Real Time (normal audio and video, which is rare on YouTube… gotta sift thru so much crap to find a full version of his show that sounds and looks tolerable).
Worth watching (increasingly is, as he is clearly acting as sort of forced controlled oppo to his crowd).
Talks some QAnon, talks CP on personal phones and how it shouldn't be a "Trump card" that supersedes your right to privacy (gee, I wonder why he brings such a thing up), has a goofy Military vax-pusher (Max Rose?) guest and Bill comes across as basically anti-vax, comparatively… discusses Larry Elder's chances @ CA Governor… there's cognitive dissonance at every turn.
His show (for me at least) has become an adventure in witnessing the psychology of slowly adjusting the rudder on the left's cruise ship without the passengers noticing, or making them think it was their idea if they do… but in fairness, we're all kinda wired that way.
https://files.catbox.moe/k9vkl5.mp4