Alcoholics Anonymous & History of AA

A Great Close to Our Southern California Meetings

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:43:51 -1000

Ken and I are back in Maui and excited over the many meetings we had in Southern California from LAX, Redondo Beach, North Hollywood, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana, to three hotels – Best Western, Wyndham, and Marriott in the area. The trip was made possible by air fare contribution of Christian friend Freda M.; hotel contribution of David Powers of Rock Recovery Ministries and Soledad House in San Diego; help with trip expenses from Dr. Bernstein’s Cri-Help in North Hollywood and it’s the Hiding Place Bible study group led by Mario Zamorano; and transportation to and fro by Christian friend Freda M., Danny Simmons of Sons of Thunder, Gary Martin of Mariners Church, Tim and Kelli White of Ex-Cons for Christ, Recovered Christian believer Danny Whitmore and his lovely wife Cate, Chuck and Gary, both of NA, and Chaplain Gene Haag of Oregon—Gene about to celebrate his 50th NA birthday/

Awakening to the Real Spiritual Experience of the First Three AAs

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 23:20:40 -1000

A.A.'s Own Attempts Today to Define Awakenings and Experiences

What was the meaning of the phrase "spiritual experience" in Step Twelve as that Step was worded on page 72 of the first printing of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known with A.A. as the "Big Book") published on April 10, 1939?

Recovery’s Reliance on God: Alcoholics Anonymous History

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 19:19:11 -1000

The Connections and Their Applicability

The Chain of Connections from Bible to 12 Step Fellowships

God’s love, power, and healings are a great part of the Bible story.

In the Old Testament, God said He was "the LORD that healeth thee." Ex. 15:26. The children of Israel were to bless Him and not forget His benefits -- which included forgiveness of all sins, healing all diseases, and redeeming lives from destruction as well as showering them with loving kindness and tender mercies. Psalm 103.

Let Us Write (or Rewrite or Help You Edit) Your Introductions!

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:56:12 -1000

Where Did Alcoholics Anonymous Come From?

Please let us help you answer that question accurately, completely, concisely, truthfully, and with 21 years of documented research about the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the astonishing successes of early Akron and Cleveland A.A. with "seemingly-hopeless," "medically-incurable," "last-gasp-case" alcoholics who thoroughly followed the original Akron A.A. "Christian fellowship" program!

North American Summit Meetings

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 12:12:17 -1000

Announcing!

Our Northern California Meeting

Now Scheduled!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Golden Hills Community Church

Brentwood, California

www.GoldenHills.org

North American Summit Meetings

Hosted by

The International Christian Recovery Coalition

Theme

Using Akron-Cleveland Christian Recovery Model Principles

to Enhance Substantially Today's Christian Recovery Efforts

An Excellent Statement from Anonymous Press about "The Conference-approved" Issue

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:36:53 -1000

The following article is reproduced with permission from The Anonymous Press:

http://anonpress.org/faq

Is it OK to use non-conference approved literature in meetings?

Yes, it is OK to read from "non-AA" literature in an AA meeting.

Some groups independently decide to restrict themselves to "conference approved" literature but are under no obligation to do so.

When talking about whether a book is "AA approved" the question is often this: "Is the book General Service Conference approved literature?" Conference approval is only considered for books published by AA World Service in NY (AAWS). It serves as a way of saying that AAWS has put together a book and the General Service Conference has approved it. AAWS organizes the General Service Conference.

Sketching the Plight of the Sick, Bewildered Newcomer Today

Mon, 16 May 2011 12:25:57 -1000

The State of the Alcoholic or Addict Entering Recovery

This person has made some terrible mistakes. He has wronged many around him. He sometimes blames everyone but himself. And he is frequently the last to conclude that he has a problem with alcohol, with drugs, with society, with sin, and with life—all mixed into one big mess.

Worse, if he quits, he endangers his life. If he has quit before, he is sure to remember that it was far more difficult to stop and suffer than to resume and march toward seeming relief and yet oblivion. If he continues, he dwells in misery and watches things get more and more difficult. And then he faces the music.

Dick B. Now Has His Own Channel on YouTube!

Fri, 13 May 2011 12:48:22 -1000

As of Wednesday, May 11, Dick B. has his own channel on YouTube! The channel’s name (at the moment) is:

dickbchannel

We have just completed and published nine (9) videos on early A.A. History and Christian recovery. Here is the URL address for the first of the nine videos (and the other eight can be found through that URL address):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUNbw6vZG5w

Please feel free to subscribe to the new Dick B. channel on YouTube. And thank you for helping us to “carry the message to those who still suffer” and to train Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena.

The Christian Recovery Movement Today -- Growing or Going?

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:19:40 -1000

Consider the Origins

In two of our recent books, Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous and The Conversion of Bill W., we covered the seemingly-forgotten-yet-very-important origins of Alcoholics Anonymous in five groups of people and organizations, primarily of the mid-to-late 19^th century.

Though critics of A.A., within and without, have often sidetracked discussions of origins by pointing to the Washingtonians and the Oxford Group, they have almost-uniformly failed to research, report, and discuss the real Christian roots of the recovery movement. And, of late, some of those critics tend to bypass A.A.’s documented Christian roots and misapply Scriptural principles and segments by claiming no Christian should be involved in today’s recovery movements.

Taking, Believing, and Understanding the Twelve Steps

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 15:33:44 -1000

Why Take Them Before You Know What the A.A. Cofounders Said about Them?

Both Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, the cofounders of A.A., spoke explicitly on where the 12 Steps came from. In sum, they stated that the basic ideas came from: (1) the Bible; (2) Dr. William D. Silkworth; (3) Professor William James; and (4) Reverend Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.

As we will see in this article, that is not the whole story. But here’s what A.A.'s cofounders said:

A.A. History: Descriptive Titles Bill W. Gave to Two A.A. "Founders"

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 10:52:46 -1000

Most thorough A.A. history accounts note that A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson recognized and appreciated the important service of others who were principals in the shaping of Alcoholics Anonymous ideas. In fact, the titles which Bill W. bestowed on those principals were not only descriptive; they highlighted the type of service rendered.

A.A., the "Higher Powers," and the New Thought Compromise

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:43:55 -1000

My Search for the Curious Nonsense "gods" Floating Around Recovery Talk

As many know by now, my searches for the history of A.A. began when a young man told me when I was three years sober that A.A. had come from the Bible. I told him I had never heard such a thing in the thousand or more meetings I had attended. He then suggested I read the A.A. General Service Conference-approved book, DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers; Which I did. And the young man was right.

Is Alcoholics Anonymous Effective? A.A. Success Rates to Consider

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:10:56 -1000

Is Alcoholics Anonymous Effective? There is no simple answer to that question relative to today's A.A. In fact, several problems immediately pop up. The first concerns the question whether conventional and present-day surveys of the Alcoholics Anonymous Society can or do establish whether the A.A. Program of recovery itself effectively offers permanent sobriety to those alcoholics who still suffer and enter the A.A. rooms. The second concerns the critical issue as to whether, like A.A. cofounder Robert H. Smith, M.D. ("Dr. Bob"), the present-day survey has asked the afflicted person, "Do you believe in God, young fella?" The third asks the further question of the surveyor as to just which program, which belief system, and which A.A. era is involved in the path that has been followed by the new person being surveyed.

A.A.’s Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Sharing by Christians

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:01:42 -1000

The Approach

Today, I received an email (part of which is set forth in this article) which asks my view on how a Christian can share his faith in an A.A. or N.A. meeting without violating the "Traditions."

Of course, I can’t and don’t speak either for A.A. or N.A. Nor can I or do I purport to be an interpreter of what is right or wrong, consistent or inconsistent, permissible or "forbidden" by the Twelve Traditions or in precisely how one should "take" the Twelve Steps..

A.A. Twelve Steps and How to Study Them and How the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" Class Can Help You

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:54:47 -1000

There are several important ways to study the Twelve Steps.

The first, of course, is to go through the Big Book, paying particular attention to the portions which are presumed to contain the "instructions."

The next is to listen to or attend a Big Book study meeting or seminar, such as the seminar conducted by Joe and Charlie for many years.

Unfortunately, neither of these approaches will give you the underlying thoughts behind either the Twelve Steps or the Big Book.

Bill Wilson’s Decision for Christ: Part One: The Oxford Group and Jesus Christ

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:50:18 -1000

This is an exploratory article on the relevance of three different subjects to each other. And also on the relevance of each subject to the cure of alcoholism. The three subjects are: (1) Alcoholics Anonymous. (2) A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson's decision for Jesus Christ at Calvary Rescue Mission in New York in late 1934. (3) The position of the Oxford Group on conversion to God through Jesus Christ and its relationship to the cure of alcoholism.

A.A. History Brief: Oxford Group

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -1000

As soon as I learned that the Oxford Group was a major source of A.A. ideas, I began going directly to its own literature to see exactly what the program was and how it might relate to Alcoholics Anonymous.

If I Wanted to Leave Alcoholics Anonymous. . .

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -1000

First of all, I don’t! But let’s just say: (1) That I’m thinking of drinking. (2) That I’m really not “willing to go to any lengths” to prevent that from happening. (3) That I’m beginning to prefer my former friends, former ideas, former hangouts, and former brand of gin. (4) That I’m developing a resentment against A.A., against the people in A.A., against the meetings of A.A., against the new literature pouring out of A.A., against the criticisms of Christians by some AAs, against the A.A. “cops” who repeatedly try to control comments, meetings, and writings by claiming they violate the Twelve Traditions, or that they are not “Conference-approved” literature or statements, against bleeding deacons who regularly voice their belief that the mere mention of “God” will drive newcomers out of the rooms, and on and on. (5) That I’ve read all the new criticisms of A.A. that seem well-funded, effective in reaching others, and are so varied in their approaches that surely one or the other will feed and fully justify my resentments and my inclinations. (6) That I have read some website like “stinkin thinkin” which has a vast assemblage of every kind of criticism I can imagine (which misses only a few like Martin and Deidre Bobgan’s 12 Steps To Destruction, Not-God, the Celebrate Recovery Bible, the Small Book, and others). Actually, many of these websites have unearthed and presented solid factual material to support their views; but they also have distorted and omitted so many others that they need to be viewed with caution.

Success Rates. Success Rates. A.A. Statistics Enough Already?

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -1000

The hills are alive with the sound of statistics. Statistics on A.A. success rates. Statistics on A.A. relapses. Statistics on recovery rates. Statistics on early A.A. cures. And surveys of A.A. and 12-Step populations, and other groups. Have we had enough? The search engines and the web sites might suggest a continued interest, but they don’t prove the value or need.

The Salvation Army: an A.A. Source

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -1000

It took many years of research before I was able to find and discuss the many strong links between the Salvation Army and Alcoholics Anonymous. And the links were of several different types: The Salvation Army work with drunks and derelicts is legendary, and very successful as well. My introduction to their work first came through the pages of Harold Begbie, Twice Born Men (NY: Fleming H. Revell, 1909). This early book became very popular in an A.A. predecessor, the Oxford Group; and it was widely read by early AAs. In short, it discussed the outreach and successes in the slums of London. It laid out a pattern which offered the drunks and derelicts a new life in Christ, a Bible background to guide them, and an insistent challenge that, when well, they help others as members of “God’s Army.” And I will discuss it in another Salvation Army article shortly.

Why Bill Wilson Came Firmly to Believe That Alcoholism Could Be Cured by Conversion

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -1000

For many years during his childhood, Bill Wilson repeatedly heard that his paternal grandfather William C. (“Willie”) Wilson had been cured of alcoholism in a conversion experience atop Mt. Aeolus in Bill’s home town village of East Dorset, Vermont.

A.A. Origins – Christian Healings

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:58:00 -1000

We are beginning a series of articles on the five principal Christian organizations and people that impacted on the Christian healings and Christian program of early A.A. founded in 1935. A.A. history, to be complete, needs to present these items.

Alcoholics Anonymous—Bill Wilson’s Decision for Christ—The Oxford Group

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:55:40 -1000

The Three Factors Explored in this Series This is an exploratory article on the relevance of three different subjects to each other. And also on the relevance of each subject to the cure of alcoholism. The three subjects are: (1) Alcoholics Anonymous. (2) A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson's decision for Jesus Christ at Calvary Rescue Mission in New York in late 1934. (3) The position of the Oxford Group on conversion to God through Jesus Christ and its relationship to the cure of alcoholism.

How the Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery Class Can Help You

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:57:45 -1000

There are several important ways to study the Twelve Steps. The first, of course, is to go through the Big Book, paying particular attention to the portions which are presumed to contain the “instructions.” The next is to listen to or attend a Big Book study meeting or seminar, such as the seminar conducted by Joe and Charlie for many years. Unfortunately, neither of these approaches will give you the underlying thoughts behind either the Twelve Steps or the Big Book. Probably the earliest materials that found their way into the Steps are those written by Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., before A.A. was founded. His first book, Realizing Religion, was published in 1923 and contains many of the seed concepts. Just before that, Howard Walter wrote the book Soul Surgery which contains explanatory information on the 5 C's which became the heart of the middle Steps. (For further information, see: www.DickB.com/NewLight.shtml and www.DickB.com/Oxford.shtml.) And it was Bill Wilson who claimed that the teachings behind the Steps came directly from Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.—particularly in the case of Steps 3 to 12. Next in line would be the extensive discussions by Anne Ripley Smith, Dr. Bob's wife, in the personal journal she kept from 1933 to 1939, and shared with all the early AAs and their families. You will be amazed at the parallels between Anne's remarks and the Step language and instructions. See www.DickB.com/Annesm.shtml, and also the articles I am posting on my blog www.MauiHistorian.blogspot.com. You will see why Bill called Anne Smith the "Mother of A.A." Finally, since Dr. Bob said the basic ideas for the Steps came from his and Bill W.'s (and possibly others') study and effort in the Bible, the best line-by-line exploration of the biblical roots of the Twelve Steps can be found in my titles found here: www.DickB.com/GoodBook.shtml; www.DickB.com/GuideBook.shtml; and www.DickB.com/JamesClub.shtml. See also the "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" class information found at www.DickB.com/IFCR-Class.shtml.

AA-History, Amends, Restitution, and Bible Origins A.A. Bible Refresher: Steps 8 and 9

Fri, 7 May 2010 18:34:40 -1000

The making of amends and restoring for things wrongfully taken are rooted in the Bible. And there are particular verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, from the Gospel of Luke, and from the Book of Numbers that provided what Dr. Bob was later to state were the basic ideas studied by A.A. cofounders long before the Steps were written and the Big Book was published.[1]

Are There Two A.A.’s?

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:00:50 -1000

Present-day AAs—members of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous—certainly can’t be divided into two A.A.’s or ten A.A.’s. At least not the AAs that I met in April of 1986 when I entered the rooms. Nor the AAs I have fellowshipped with over the past 23 years. Nor the AAs I have met at International Conventions, regional conventions, gatherings like the “Spring Fling,” Big Book Seminars, Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron, the Wilson House in Vermont, the Snyder retreats in many states, the Roman Catholic retreat for AAs that I led in a monastery several years back, or just the plain old “meetings” that go on continually in communities wherever I go. The people differ. The behavior differs. The groups differ. But the doors are open to all who want to stop drinking.

A.A. Cofounder Bill W.: His Younger Years at a Glance

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:34:40 -1000

Bill Wilson was born in East Dorset, Vermont, November 26, 1895. His parents were married in the East Dorset Congregational Church. That church lay on the green between The Wilson House and the Griffith House. Bill was born, and his parents lived briefly, in The Wilson House. His paternal grandparents had been among the founders and attenders at the church. Bill was raised in the Griffith House by his maternal grandparents who considered the church their family church. Bill got sober in November 1934 and never drank again. He died on January 24, 1971. A.A. literature records: All his life, Bill retained, as did Dr. Bob, a deep affection for and identification with the people of Vermont. . . .

The Seven Basic Christian Roots of Early A.A.

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:34:40 -1000

A.A. Cofounders Dr. Bob and Bill W. both were born and raised in Vermont, had a Congregational upbringing, were much involved in Bible study, knew of conversions, attended church weekly or more, and daily chapel at their Academies daily. Each was steeped in the seven basic Christian roots of early A.A.