I wouldn’t be too strident in criticizing AA. It’s saved a lot of lives. For some, it’s the only treatment that works. Groups differ and some do plenty of work to keep “quasi-religious” elsewhere & practice a spiritual program in the best sense: community, connection, support, service. Yes it’s outdated and old-fashioned in many ways, founded by white cis men, but the “loose network” has kept centralized power and thus institutional corruption from changing the basic principals. Until you have alcoholism or have lived with a chronic alcoholic, judging AA is reckless. If we had a simple, easy treatment for alcoholism that worked AA would’ve died out long ago.