Differences

I notice that in recovery programs such as AA, there are many different kinds of meetings.  Some are advertised and some are not.  People like to go to meetings where they feel comfortable.  There are meetings for sexual preferences, for judges, police/fire people, clergy, and even airline pilots.  No one meeting says, "We are the best," or "We are the only meeting that does it right."  Meetings or worship services in religions seem to go in a different direction.  Some of these religions think they are completely right, orthodox and everyone else is wrong.  Why not just let people go where they want to go as long as it is what they believe?  So many wars have been and still are fought over religion, dress codes, customs and even skin color and ethnicity.  In AA no one cares what you look like.  You are welcome.  One thing AA has in common with religions is that if you take an old timer's pew seat in church or regular seat at a meeting, they might become a bit upset.  Turf is always a test of welcome.