Aa is spiritual, not religiousnow hold my hand while we pray. The program of aa is all about finding god power greater than yourself,the word god as used in the big book is open ended but certainly has its roots based in christianity, if. It is clearly written and concise but 456 pages of microprint. A history of alcoholics anonymous, you may think as i did, that you have a good understanding of that history. Writing the big book zeroes in on the first five years in a way that no other history of a. Yet, we believe we can make some definite and valuable suggestions. Love in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week. Alcoholics anonymous calls their book of the same name, the big book. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous.
Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. We found that god does not make too hard terms with those who seek him. It has been 40 years since ernie kurtz wrote notgod, the last truly professional treatment of the history of alcoholics anonymous. No need for christ in alcoholics anonymous berean research.
Many people experience the feelings described in the promises as they work step nine. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. When, therefore, we speak to you of god, we mean your own conception of god. This history begins with the groups early struggles and continues through its worldwide growth. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a creative intelligence, a spirit of the universe under. The promises are usually read at the end of each aa meeting. This is a great original version of the aa big book. To us, the realm of spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and reli. To answer this, i could blow the dust off my big book, open to page 59, and.
As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider anothers conception of god. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Those that wrote the big book came from this kind of era. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism, is a collection of texts used by members of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship. The second half of the book describes in painstaking detail the notion of not god and how it applies to the aa view of surrender to win. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. In spite of the great increase in the size and span of this fellowship, at.
It was one of the first to suggest that alcoholism was an illness, not a character defect. In addition, it fills the blanks required for a more thorough understanding of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. He wrote his personal story, the vicious cycle, for the 2nd edition of the big book. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Faith in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. A fascinating, account of the discovery and program of alcoholics anonymous, not god contains anecdotes and excerpts from the diaries, correspondence, and occasional memoirs of aas early figures. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a creative intelligence. Stay tuned for as you understand him which came from rev. The big book the aa bible states, we thought we could find an easier, softer way.
The big book vs the book gods word alcoholics anonymous big book exposed all scriptures taken from the preserved 1611 king james bible. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. We will suddenly realize that god is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. The big book vs the book gods word jesus christ is. This is the official website of the general service office g.
The purpose of the big book as it says in the forward of the book, we, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Northwest arkansas alcoholics anonymous that aint in. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in god s world by mistake. At the time of writing the big book, women were viewed as less than rather than equal to or, in many cases, superior to. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. Wilson and smith developed aas twelve step program of spiritual and character development, which they believed was the key to breaking the bondage to alc. Nonetheless, i was fortunate in being brought up with the four absolutes, and i still rely on them when all the chips. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. The god concept in alcoholics anonymous by george a. The big book alcoholics anonymous the big book of alcoholics anonymous. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. When bill wilson had his hot flash conversion at towns hospital in 1934 he exclaimed, so this is the god of the preachers. God in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. In the 1930s usa, the bible and god was everywhere.
They are worse off because they do not believe in the god that the bible teaches, the one that makes you whole forever. The big book describes god as the monotheistic, omnipotent, and interventionist creator and father, your basic biblical deity. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. Reflections introduction ernie kurtz on the history of aa, spirituality, shame, and storytelling with bill white. Silkworth big book study aa anonymity statement anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. If he sticks to the idea that he can still control his drinking, tell him that possibly he canif he is not too alcoholic. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment. Makes no claims or statement of facts and in general is not responsible for the content and any ramifications thereof. There is a solution w e, of alcoholics anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as bill.
What the big book really says by jay westbrook on december 29, 2014 in living in recovery, living with addiction alcoholics anonymous, and the myriad of other 12step programs, can be invaluable to the recovering alcoholic or addict. I first bought this book after my aa sponsor requested i read it after i had been sober about 10 years. It originated the twelvestep program now used widely among addictions outside alcohol. A collection of alternative 12 steps it contains 20 different versions of the steps, four secular interpretations of each step by authors like gabor mate and stephanie covington, templates so the reader can write his or her own personal version of the steps, and an essay on the. God, according to alcoholics anonymous, is a power greater than ourselves step 2, but god is whatever the alcoholic understands him to be steps 3 and 11. Narcotics, addiction, recovery, alcoholics, twelve steps, anonymous groups, thirteenth step, lions, tigers, and bears alcoholics anonymous. How does alcoholics anonymous compare with the bible. Its faithbased 12step program dominates treatment in the united states. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. Since then, he has published the spirituality of imperfection, and the booklet shame and guilt. It has been 40 years since ernie kurtz wrote not god, the last truly professional treatment of the history of alcoholics anonymous. Christians continue to jam their god, the ancient of days, into aas chameleon. This probably explains why i found kurtz writing style to be rather convoluted and was often frustrated by his runon sentences. How it works rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.
But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. The word broken down from greek is, a meaning without, and gnosis meaning knowledge. This exercise is meant to be an individual study aid of the big book in which the author identifies the references to god. This is the basic text for their society and it is referred to as the book of experience. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.
An agnostic aa group can be the best of all worlds for those who want to tap into the fellowship and support that aa has offered for almost 80 years but who arent comfortable with the god. Aa speaker the spiritual life is not a theory 12step recovery. Perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover. Fre quent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. Aug 12, 2012 for a liberating approach to aas 12step program of recovery, you might want to consider the little book. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The big book is alcoholics anonymouss primary text. His doctoral dissertation was published as the book notgod. Alcoholics anonymous quotes author of alcoholics anonymous. Others experience the feelings, such as freedom, happiness and loss of.
Not god contains anecdotes and excerpts from the diaries. Alcoholics anonymous, which now has 1,700 groups with 70,000 members and an influence far beyond its membership, is a spiritual movement, a faith cure for alcoholism. Men and women find that they have been trying to live without god, and they then discover how to live with god. The twelve steps do not address sin, or repentance, but rather put such things in generic terms. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. People tend to use atheist and agnostic as the same thing but they are not. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is often referred to in alcoholics anonymous meetings aa as the big book. The text got this name because the first edition of the book had rather thick pages, making the book even thicker than its content would suggest. This authoritative and compelling book on the history of alcoholics anonymous was originally written as a dissertation for ernest kurtz doctorate in history at harvard university. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics. For me, being rocketed requires the jet propulsion and power of almighty god and not some idolatrous and lesser god which matter is discussed in psalm 115.
It is not meant to be the the final word by any stretch. In later versions, many of the original stories are taken out, but these are crucial to the overall development of aa. God in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12 traditions. Mar 08, 2020 when aa left the oxford group it took with it the oxford groups god and mythology. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with him. Chapter 4 of the big book is titled we agnostics and explores the meaning of a higher power. In saying this i am not dismissing the big book or the writers. Consequently, it follows that some would regard the big book with a measure of reverence. The god of aa does not have the power to clothe the alcoholic in new clothes. I bought it to hear what the original authors had to say. Dec 10, 2014 an agnostic aa group can be the best of all worlds for those who want to tap into the fellowship and support that aa has offered for almost 80 years but who arent comfortable with the god. Ernie, since it was first published in 1979, your book, not god. Feb 21, 2017 jim burwell jimmy the atheist was one of aa s first members.
Alcoholics anonymous aa was founded in 1935 by bill wilson known as bill w. But researchers have debunked central tenets of aa doctrine and found dozens of. Curiously, the very title of this book, not god, focuses attention on one of aas most explicit themes. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. Subsequently, the history of alcoholics anonymous aa has been documented in books, movies, and aa literature. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. His doctoral dissertation was published as the book not god. After months of lively discussions with other aa founders on the issue of god, he was the first to conceptualize the aa group as his own higher power. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. The big book s approach to step 4, with its masculine focus is not only less helpful to women than it should be, it is probably harmful.
It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery. Not associated with or connected to or related towith alcoholics anonymous, towith alcoholics anonymous world services inc this site does not represent alcoholics anonymous in any way shape or form. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you.
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