Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible


Alcoholics Anonymous History

THE GOOD BOOK AND THE BIG BOOK

A.A.'s Roots in the Bible


 

By Dick B.

© 2013 Anonymous. All rights reserved  

 

THE GOOD BOOK AND THE BIG BOOK

A.A.'s Roots in the Bible

 

 

An astounding seventy-five to ninety-three percent of the early members of Alcoholics Anonymous recovered from their seemingly hopeless diseases of alcoholism. They did it by relying on God and by basing their relationship with Him on the principles of the Bible.

 

This comprehensive history discusses the biblical sources from which A.A.'s founders said they obtained their recovery ideas—focusing particularly on the Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, and the Book of James. For many A.A.s, the Bible was a standard of truth upon which they could depend for the power and guidance that they needed in their lives.

 

Author Dick B.—an active, recovered member of A.A..—with over 26 years of continuous sobriety--bible student, and a sponsor of over one hundred men in their recovery—here shows how a knowledge of A.A.'s Good Book roots can be used effectively to produce a high recovery rate in today's Twelve Step programs.

 

THE PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE GOOD BOOK TITLE

 

Dick B. wrote The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible to provide an accurate, comprehensive statement of the basic ideas and principles early AAs took from the Bible as they were developing their spiritual program of recovery and later the Big Book and the Twelve Steps. This title by Dick has stood the test of time. It is much in demand. It is now used in counselor training, Salvation Army programs, treatment programs, sober living facilities, A.A. meetings, spiritual retreats for AAs and their families, and in seminars and programs for people in recovery, whether in A.A., Al-Anon, or such groups as Overcomers, Alcoholics for Christ, and Alcoholics Victorious.

 

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. "Lest We Forget Early AAs and Their Bibles!"

Early A.A.'s Success Rate Compared to Today

The Historical Evidence of A.A.'s Good Book Roots

The Oxford Group-Shoemaker Impact

Bible Devotionals and Other Early A.A. Literature

The Purpose of Our Book

 

2. God!

The Frequency of Biblical Names for God

God is

A Loving God

A Special "god" for A.A.?

Whence Came "Higher Power?"

Bill Wilson's Higher Power

"God As We Understood Him"

"A Power Greater Than Ourselves"

 

3. Biblical Impact on Big Book Language

Direct Quotes from the Bible

Recognizable Biblical Words and Concepts

A.A. Slogans and Watchwords with Biblical Roots

Two Other Biblical Concepts

 

4. The Parts Dr. Bob Found "Essential"

The Thirteenth Chapter of First Corinthians

The Book of James

The Sermon on the Mount

 

5. The Good Book and the Twelve Steps

Step One and Deflation at Depth

Step Two, Willingness, Belief, and Seeking

Step Three and the Decision to Surrender

Step Four and Self-examination

Step Five and Confession

Step Six, Conviction and Readiness to Change

Step Seven, Humble Submission and Rebirth

Step Eight, Willingness To Make Amends

Step Nine, Restitution

Step Ten and Daily Corrective Action

Step Eleven, Prayer, Guidance, Growth, Power

Step Twelve, Awakening, Witness, Practice of Principles

 

6. Keeping It Simple

The Original Six Steps

Simmered Down to the Last (Love and Service)

 

7. The Good Book and A.A. Today

Foreword by Bob Smith, Son of A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob and his wife, Anne.

 

 

Endorsements

"The Bible and the 'Big Book' of Alcoholics Anonymous are not mutually exclusive, as the author, Dick B., carefully shows. The A.A. book which has helped millions with their addictions is deeply indebted to, and profoundly influenced by, biblical language, images, and themes gleaned directly from the Bible or indirectly from Bible teachers like Rev. Samuel Shoemaker, E. Stanley Jones, and Oswald Chambers. A.A. has received much from biblical Christianity, and biblical Christians can receive much from Dick's new book about spiritual growth and victorious living."

Rev. Charles B. Puskas, Jr., Ph.D.

Author, An Introduction to the New Testament

"Dick's exhaustive research gives us a clear picture of how Dr. Bob, Anne, Bill W., and the early A.A.s used the Good Book to help thousands recover".

Ray G.

Archivist, Dr. Bob's Home, Akron, Ohio

"We use Dick's book in all our counselor training centers. It is an invaluable resource."

Jean LaCour, Ph.D.

Dean, The N.E.T. Training Institute

"We're excited to have this book for scholars of A.A. that explains A.A.'s roots in the Bible!"

Ozzie and Bonnie L.

Managers, The Wilson House, East Dorset, Vermont

"Anyone seeking to learn the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous will find Dick B.'s publication, The Good Book and the Big Book, an invaluable resource. Dick has done a monumental job of finding and documenting the prime sources of A.A.'s life-renewing power."

John F. Seiberling

Former United States Congressman

Son of Henrietta Seiberling, an early A.A. "founder"

Paradise Research Publications, Inc.; 180 pp.; 6 x 9; perfect bound; 1998; $23.95; ISBN 1-885803-24-9

 

Dick B has published over 46 titles and 1400 articles on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Christian Recovery Movement. His main website is www.dickb.com. His main blog is http://MauiHistorian.Blogspot.com; and he can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Tumbler. Dick is Executive Director of International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

 

    

 

Contact:

Dick B.

P.O. Box 837

Kihei, Hawaii

96753-0837

Ph/fax: (808)874-4876

dickb@dickb.com

 

 

 

Trademarks and Disclaimer: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS®, A.A.®, and Big Book® are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Dick B.'s web site, Paradise Research Publications, Inc., and Good Book Publishing Company are neither endorsed nor approved by nor associated or affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

 

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