Christian roots of Alcoholics Anonymous

The Christian Roots of A.A.:

A.A.'s heritage is not "spirituality." It's certainly nor a door knob or a light bulb. And "not-god-ness"--A Kurtz manufacture--is in no way representative of what the Big Book is about. The best starting place for info is Bill's Story and the First Edition of "Alcoholics Anonymous." Then DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. And then a thorough look at the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. These three were the heart of, and "absolutely essential" in the early A.A.'s Christian Fellowship in Akron. See www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml.

If you compare the early program with A.A. Big Book ideas, you'll see the biblical roots at every turn. Quotes from the Bible. Idioms from the Bible. Descriptions from the Bible like "Creator," "Maker," "Heavenly Father," and "God."

But the next stop is the Oxford Group. This is because Bill codified the Oxford Group principles and practices into his "practical program of action" in the A.A. Big Book. www.dickb.com/OxfordGroup.shtml.

Reverend Sam Shoemaker and the writings of Professor William James played a part in introducing the idea of "finding God." But Dr. Bob and Akron A.A. stuck with just plain God. Compare www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml with www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.

www.dickb.com