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. 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 conclusion i came too though was that you have to understand the context of the time the big book was written. Many people experience the feelings described in the promises as they work step nine. Not god contains anecdotes and excerpts from the diaries. The big book is alcoholics anonymouss primary text. In later versions, many of the original stories are taken out, but these are crucial to the overall development of aa. Love in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
Aa speaker the spiritual life is not a theory 12step recovery. God in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Reflections introduction ernie kurtz on the history of aa, spirituality, shame, and storytelling with bill white. 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. 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. 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. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a creative intelligence. It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god.
His doctoral dissertation was published as the book not god. How does alcoholics anonymous compare with the bible. In the big book, both uses of the phrase higher power were in the context of god and no other. 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. Makes no claims or statement of facts and in general is not responsible for the content and any ramifications thereof. They are worse off because they do not believe in the god that the bible teaches, the one that makes you whole forever. In the 1930s usa, the bible and god was everywhere. Nonetheless, i was fortunate in being brought up with the four absolutes, and i still rely on them when all the chips. Yes, this book is about the power of god the higher power. Alcoholics anonymous quotes author of alcoholics anonymous. The big book alcoholics anonymous the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Northwest arkansas alcoholics anonymous that aint in. 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.
Christians continue to jam their god, the ancient of days, into aas chameleon. In saying this i am not dismissing the big book or the writers. Mar 08, 2020 when aa left the oxford group it took with it the oxford groups god and mythology. It was one of the first to suggest that alcoholism was an illness, not a character defect. 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. 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. I bought it to hear what the original authors had to say. This is a great original version of the aa big book. 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. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic.
Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Feb 21, 2017 jim burwell jimmy the atheist was one of aa s first members. 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. The big book vs the book gods word alcoholics anonymous big book exposed all scriptures taken from the preserved 1611 king james bible. Others experience the feelings, such as freedom, happiness and loss of. Yet, we believe we can make some definite and valuable suggestions. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. This is the official website of the general service office g.
People tend to use atheist and agnostic as the same thing but they are not. Our steps by the big book group sessions are not official aa meetings because we limit enrollment to a specific number of participants. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery. We found that god does not make too hard terms with those who seek him. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. It is not meant to be the the final word by any stretch. 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. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Men and women find that they have been trying to live without god, and they then discover how to live with god. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in god s world by mistake. Alcoholics anonymous aa was founded in 1935 by bill wilson known as bill w. But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. To answer this, i could blow the dust off my big book, open to page 59, and.
In addition, it fills the blanks required for a more thorough understanding of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Fre quent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. We will suddenly realize that god is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. 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. This probably explains why i found kurtz writing style to be rather convoluted and was often frustrated by his runon sentences. But researchers have debunked central tenets of aa doctrine and found dozens of. 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. It originated the twelvestep program now used widely among addictions outside alcohol. This is the basic text for their society and it is referred to as the book of experience. The big book vs the book gods word jesus christ is. No need for christ in alcoholics anonymous berean research. A little ditty on the big book of alcoholics anonymous we agnostics.
The promises are usually read at the end of each aa meeting. An even number of participants, perhaps from 2 to 16, allows members of the group to work in pairs as buddies. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Aug 12, 2012 for a liberating approach to aas 12step program of recovery, you might want to consider the little book. Chapter 4 of the big book is titled we agnostics and explores the meaning of a higher power. Aa is spiritual, not religiousnow hold my hand while we pray. Its faithbased 12step program dominates treatment in the united states. First, the concept of god in aa is not the biblical teaching of yahweh, the one true god, creator, and redeemer. The word broken down from greek is, a meaning without, and gnosis meaning knowledge. 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. 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. God in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12 traditions.
The big book describes god as the monotheistic, omnipotent, and interventionist creator and father, your basic biblical deity. 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. Silkworth big book study aa anonymity statement anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. This history begins with the groups early struggles and continues through its worldwide growth. Writing the big book zeroes in on the first five years in a way that no other history of a.
I first bought this book after my aa sponsor requested i read it after i had been sober about 10 years. Consequently, it follows that some would regard the big book with a measure of reverence. 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. At the time of writing the big book, women were viewed as less than rather than equal to or, in many cases, superior to. 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. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation.
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. This exercise is meant to be an individual study aid of the big book in which the author identifies the references to god. Faith in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. 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. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. Those that wrote the big book came from this kind of era. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. The god concept in alcoholics anonymous by george a. Perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover.
If he sticks to the idea that he can still control his drinking, tell him that possibly he canif he is not too alcoholic. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider anothers conception of god. The twelve steps do not address sin, or repentance, but rather put such things in generic terms. 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. When, therefore, we speak to you of god, we mean your own conception of god. It has been 40 years since ernie kurtz wrote not god, the last truly professional treatment of the history of alcoholics anonymous.
Since then, he has published the spirituality of imperfection, and the booklet shame and guilt. 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. Big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 4 we agnostics pages 44 57. The god of aa does not have the power to clothe the alcoholic in new clothes. 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. Curiously, the very title of this book, not god, focuses attention on one of aas most explicit themes. Narcotics, addiction, recovery, alcoholics, twelve steps, anonymous groups, thirteenth step, lions, tigers, and bears alcoholics anonymous. In spite of the great increase in the size and span of this fellowship, at.
Ernie, since it was first published in 1979, your book, not 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. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with him. His doctoral dissertation was published as the book notgod. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. 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. How it works rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and reli. There is a solution w e, of alcoholics anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as bill. 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. 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. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. The big book the aa bible states, we thought we could find an easier, softer way. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica.
A history of alcoholics anonymous, you may think as i did, that you have a good understanding of that history. It is clearly written and concise but 456 pages of microprint. Subsequently, the history of alcoholics anonymous aa has been documented in books, movies, and aa literature. He wrote his personal story, the vicious cycle, for the 2nd edition of the big book. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a creative intelligence, a spirit of the universe under. It has been 40 years since ernie kurtz wrote notgod, the last truly professional treatment of the history of alcoholics anonymous.
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