“The
assertive leadership in protection of “our common welfare” was
well demonstrated by Bill W, the “trusted servants” involved with
Chuck D. in 1958 and recently by those in the Toronto intergroup in
Canada:
“Toronto’s
A.A. Intergroup Bounces Atheists after Spirited Battle” by Dirk
Hanson, The Fix, 06/06/11, issue 141:
“Is
There A Place For Atheists in Alcoholics Anonymous? – A
long-simmering feud is spreading around the world, after one AA
establishment voted to expel two atheist/agnostic groups in Canada”
by Jesse Beach, The Fix 14/06/11:
http://www.alternet.org/story/151294/is_there_a_place_for_atheists_in_alcoholics_anonymous?akid=7112.275856.JI6Ij2&rd=1&t=5
No
doubt the courageous Toronto “trusted servants” have received
plenty of “accusations…… gobs of rumour, gossip and general
scuttle-butt” (Concept IX), perhaps attempts to twist warranty five
“incitement to public controversy,” to try and throw them off
beam. However, although it is unfortunate this matter has gone
public, when compared to the incitement to public controversy caused
by the behaviour in cult groups described in the Washington Post and
The Independent, and the potential incitement to public controversy
to be caused by A.A groups re-writing the A.A. program, each
according to their dictator’s own sundry ideas, personal beliefs
and prejudices, the article does show A.A. (In Canada at least) to
have a legitimate organised structure with a duly elected
responsibility and authority, rather than a headless anarchy.
“Salute
to Canada – Our congratulations and thanks to Canada; no finer AA
exists.” (Bill W. May 1951, Language of the Heart page 191)
For
an A.A. group to re-write the Twelve Steps is to violate Tradition 4 (Long Form).
“For
instance no group or intergroup could feel free to initiate, without
consultation, any publicity that might affect AA as a whole. Nor
could it assume to represent the whole of Alcoholics Anonymous by
printing and distributing anything purporting to be AA standard
literature” (Bill W. A.A. Grapevine March 1948, Language of the
Heart page 81).
“Our
literature is a principle means by which A.A. recovery, unity, and
service are facilitated” (Concept XI).
“And
again, “Some [of the Washingtonian local groups] dipped into their
treasuries to finance their own publications. There was no overall
editorial policy……We are sure that if the original Washingtonians
could return to this planet they would be glad to see us learning
from their mistakes…… Had we lived in their day we might have
made the same errors. Perhaps we are beginning to make some of them
now.” (Bill W. AA Grapevine August
1945. Language of the Heart page 5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingtonian_movement
However,
the principle applied to the atheist-agnostic groups in Toronto ought
to be applied to any dual purpose group presenting itself as an “on
your knees pray to God” Christian “early AA” - neo Oxford
Group, or any other religion:
“Some
years ago, numbers of AAs formed themselves into “retreat groups”
having a religious purpose. At first they wanted to call themselves
AA groups of various descriptions. But they soon realized this could
not be done because their groups had a dual purpose: both AA and
religion”. (Bill W. AA Grapevine February 1958; Language
of
the Heart page 222).
“Speaking
for Dr. Bob and myself I would like to say that there has never been
the slightest intent, on his part or mine, of trying to found a new
religious denomination. Dr. Bob held certain religious convictions,
and so do I. This is, of course, the personal privilege of every A.A.
member. Nothing however, could be so unfortunate for A.A.’s future
as an attempt to incorporate any of our personal theological views
into A.A. teaching, practice or tradition.” (Bill W. AA Comes of
Age page 232)
“Beyond
a Higher Power, as each of us may vision him, A.A. must never, as a
society, enter the field of dogma or theology….. Lest we kill our
usefulness by being bogged down in theological contention” (Bill W.
Letter 1954, As Bill sees It page 116)
“This
was the great contribution of our atheists and agnostics. They had
widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass through,
regardless of their belief or lack of belief.” (Bill W. A.A.
Comes of Age page 167)
“The
atheist may stand up in an A.A. meeting denying God, yet reporting
how he has been helped in other ways”….. we make no religious
requirement of anyone…..In this atmosphere the orthodox,
unorthodox, and the unbeliever mix happily and usefully together”
(Bill W. “Pass it On page 172-173)
We
wonder if the motivation behind the Toronto atheist group’s actions
is out of a sense of insecurity arising from the influence of
Traditions 4, 6 and 12 violations; the missionaries of the dishonest
rendering of AA’s history by fundamentalist Christian authors
emanating from the USA; Dick B. Joe McQ and Wally P.
Extracts
from “By the Power Of God, A Guide to Early A.A. Groups &
forming similar Groups Today” by Dick B:
“Of
course the A.A. of yesteryear is truly gone forever. There is no Dr.
Bob – physician, Bible student, ‘Prince of Twelve-Steppers,’
ambassador for Christ. There is no loving Anne Smith,- ‘Mother of
A.A.’ ‘Founder’ nurse, evangelist, employment agent, and
dispenser of ‘spiritual pablum’[sic] … …There is no quiet
time…. where the Bible is studied,…prayer is made to God…….
“(page xiii)
“There
is a Good Big Book/Bible study group in California……There is also
a ‘Safe to Talk about Jesus meeting’…….There is a Big
Book/Bible study meeting in Florida. There are spiritual retreats for
AAs and their families in at least seven locations in the United
States and one in England.” (Page xiii)
“So
also ‘Absolute purity.’…. And if thy right eye offend thee,
pluck it out…. (Page 42)
And – ‘Absolute unselfishness’….So likewise who ever he be of you that forsaketh not all….” (Page 42)
“And ‘Absolute Love’ A new commandment that I give unto you that ye love one another …” (Page 42)
“Carrying
the Message…As part of AAs Twelfe [sic] Step…And he[Jesus] said
unto them….”(Page 189)
“Possible
Approaches in Meetings 1. Listening to the readings of scripture.
Perhaps segments of the Oxford Group book, How to read the Bible
[Roger Hicks, How to read the Bible (London: Moral re-
Armament, 1940)]” (Page 215)
“Alcoholism
can be cured. Today’s people have just changed the language to
satisfy the unbelievers” (page 233)
Dick
B’s Alcoholics Anonymous History website:
http://www.dickb.com/index.html
Extracts
from “Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners meetings” by
Wally P:
“In
order for the process to work, newcomers need to be matched up with
A.A. members who are willing to guide them through the four one hour
sessions……..Newcomers do not attend beginners’ meetings alone,
they are accompanied by their sponsors/sharing partners…..
For
the Newcomer: 1.Your primary obligation is to attend all four
sessions…. 2. We will read the appropriate parts of the ‘Big
Book’ to you…. (Page 38)
“It
is time to assign sponsors or sharing partners to those who need
them. Will the newcomers please stand. These are the people who are
about to take the Twelve Steps” (Page 39)
“Next
the author instructs us to check what we have put on paper. Here the
sponsor or sharing partner can be very helpful: Check…When
in doubt and when it is important, what does another person who is
working two way prayer think about this thought or action? .... Talk
over together what you have written…Tell each other what guidance
has come. This is the secret of unity….Then the author explains, to
what many of us, is the most difficult part
of all …Obey... Carry out the thoughts that have come. You
will only be sure of guidance as you go through with it… [How to
listen to God, p3]” (page 120)
“It
is time to make a commitment to working with others…please stand.
This is the Twelfe [sic] Step question ‘Will you carry the
message to other alcoholics?’ please answer, one at a time,
‘yes’ or ‘no.’ After you have answered, please be seated.
[Have each newcomer answer the question]” (page 146)
The
following are some early A.A. definitions of God and prayer, by what
some of today’s Back to Basics, “original A.A”., “On your
knees” missionaries might call the “Original AA members” or
“The first One Hundred”, “Big Book Authors,” “founders”:
“Most
of us in Akron didn’t like all this praying…….We’d had enough
of it in the Oxford Group. I still don’t like praying in A.A. I
don’t like the Serenity Prayer. New York brought it in, and we
resented it. We thought they were bringing back the Oxford Group”
(1942, Oscar W. Early Akron A.A. group member) (Dr. Bob and the Good
Old Timers, page 271)
1937:
“And their concept of a Higher Power was different from that of the
groupers, who were not prepared to accept light bulbs and Third
Avenue buses as examples of “God as I understand Him .…………
This, too, was an attitude that represented a fundamental difference
between the A.A.s and the Oxford Groupers. A.A.s were more and more
inclined to allow newer members to arrive at a concept of a Higher
Power in their own time and manner.” (Pass It On, page 161)
“Try
to find your own God – As you understand Him.” (Quote of
Dr. Bob) ( Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers, page 281)
1940:
“ At his time – January – 1940 he wasn’t making you get out
of bed to pray on your knees, to pray with you, I’m not sure that
would have worked too well with me.” A recollection of Dr. Bob by
John S. (Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers, page 276)
1941:”Any
concept of the Higher Power is acceptable. A sceptic or an agnostic
may choose to think of his inner self, the miracle of growth, a tree,
man’s wonderment at the physical universe, the structure of an
atom, or mere mathematical infinity. Whatever form is visualized, the
neophyte is taught that he must rely on it, in his own way, to pray
to the power for strength.” (Jack Alexander article about AA , page
19)”
Comment:
Toronto AA is an example of a pro-active service structure rather
than a moribund one; this is what is meant by “leadership”. Here
also is illustrated the necessity of a “canonical” literature
within AA (ie. conference approved) which establishes the foundation
both for our programme of recovery and the constitution of our
society. Without these we are simply directionless and clueless –
or as it might be put - just another bunch of drunks! Similarly the
formation of “dual purpose” groups (of whatever denomination or
type) by definition creates an “outside affiliation” and
therefore (under Tradition 3) excludes these from further
participation within the AA service structure (which will necessarily
entail de-listing of the group and removal of its members (qua
“group” membership) from service structure participation (and where necessary appropriate notification to outside agencies to that effect under Warranty Five, Concept 12) etc –
but which does not affect in any way the right of each individual
to be a member of AA as such ie. the only requirement for membership
is a desire to stop drinking).
Finally
– and very very briefly:
Dick
B – a revisionist (and flawed) perspective of AA history with a
Christian agenda.
Wally
B – yet another version of doing the programme by “rote”. No
thinking required here!
'Nuff
said
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
