Stopping by for a look-see. Because I know so many of the people named in the by-lines, I drop by this site occasionally. I also post occasionally. I cannot say I agree with every direction the site takes or every comment made. But that’s true for AA itself, for alcoholics, for churches, and for politicians.
However, it’s always tough when ad hominem attacks and criticisms appear. And that’s pretty rare on this site. It’s rampant on a very few others that also purvey history.
When I see the finger pointing, I remember the two rules that are helpful.(1) Whenever one points a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at him. (2) More directly applicable to an AA is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount–which early AAs considered absolutely essential to their program. And, the words or gist of Matthew 7:1-5 appear with some frequency in early A.A. comments. The verses say:”Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
For those who look at our history before they jump, just look at the Oxford Group expressions which crept into our Big Book and Steps. Mainly, look for the injunction that suggests: “What was our part.”
Pardon those of us who look to the Scriptures, as early AAs did. But when asked about the program, Dr. Bob’s usual response was “What does it say in the Good Book?”
God Bless, Dick B. http://www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.
I've read the AA literature and, in the history books, it's very clear that early AA used the New Testament as a basis. They later found links with psychiatry, Jung, in particular, but what worked in the early days was regular Bible study and contemplation, with discussion of what was learned. Those early morning "quiet time" studies were vital to the 24-hour program.
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