Tradition 10 · October 3

No Views Whatever

Daily Traditions · October 3

The threat today

Read Tradition 10 in its long form before anyone tells you what it means, because the words are narrower and harder than the rumour. The Big Book (p. 565): "No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues—particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever." Whose views? The groups', and a member's only when it drags A.A. in with him. Which fights? Outside ones: elections, liquor laws, one church against another ("sectarian" means belonging to one denomination). What it does not say is that A.A. must keep quiet about itself. What an A.A. group is (free, run by its members, answering to no one) is A.A.'s own business, not an outside issue. The reason for the silence is the drunk: a man still drinking who hears the rooms are against his party or his faith has a reason not to come. Today the words get turned around. Staff tell a client "A.A. says" something about his medication, his church or his vote. Test it tonight: when anyone says "A.A. says," ask to see where it is written.

Sit with

Tradition 10 closes A.A.'s mouth on outside fights, not on what A.A. is. Have I ever repeated "A.A. says" about something A.A. has never said?

Grounded in: Long form, Tradition 10 (Big Book, p. 565).

Tradition 10

"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.

And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.

What the Traditions actually say → The Long Form, p. 563 → Search the Big Book → Every day this month →

Ask Recovery Einstein about Tradition 10 → Get the app →

← October 2As We Elect Tradition 10All of October October 4 →Eleven to Two

Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).