Quite a few people know that AA is rooted in Christianity. We would consistently read Bible verses at the meetings I went to. But even in the larger public, it's known. In fact, one of the biggest complaints about AA is the big religious undertones. People who are atheist or agnostic and don't want to deal with the ideas of religion while trying to get sober can really be turned off from going to AA meetings, and it's a genuine hurdle at times. I know it was for me. I'm spiritual, but I was worried about dealing with random religious discussions while working on getting sober. I came to appreciate AA for what it's for, it helped me, and it's helped tons of people before me. But even as a spiritual person, I wish there were more secular programs for alcoholics and addicts. I think it would help get more people sober in the end. You can't preach to someone if they die of alcoholism first.