Extracts
from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch
under thread: “aacultwatch forum daily reflections”
“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, 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. We can never
become a religion in that sense. Lest we kill our usefulness by being
bogged down in theological contention.” - Bill W. (Letter 1954, As
Bill sees It page 116)
“Doc
was extremely democratic’ recalled Joe. ‘He’d go to a meeting,
and he wouldn’t sit up on the stage. He’d always sit in
the second row or some place like that.” – Joe P. (Dr. Bob and
the Good Old Timers page 288)
1931*
the first foundation stone of Alcoholics Anonymous is laid by the
Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, Dr. Carl Jung.
“Then
followed a conversation between you that was to become the first link
in the chain of events that led to the founding of Alcoholics
anonymous.” - Bill W. (Bill W. Letter to Carl Jung, 1961, Pass it
On page 382)
“This
candid and humble statement of yours was no doubt the first
foundation stone upon which our society was built.” - Bill W.
(Bill W. Letter to Carl Jung, 1961, AA Grapevine January 1963. Language of the Heart page 277)
“Please
be certain that your place in the affection, and in the history, of
our fellowship is like no other. Gratefully yours, William G. W.
Co-founder Alcoholics Anonymous ” (Bill W. Letter to Carl Jung,
1961, Language of the Heart page 280)
“His
insight into what was needed for recovery from alcoholism, an insight
that came to me through Rowland and Ebby at a crucial point in my own
deterioration, meant everything for AA when it was still in embryo.”
– Bill W. (AA Grapevine January 1968, Language of the Heart page 282)
“Without
its friends in the medical profession, Alcoholics Anonymous might
never have been born. It was from the medical profession that we
of A.A. learned the physical and emotional nature of our malady.
Today thousands of physicians throughout the world are working in
closest co-operation with us.”– Bill W. (A.A. Comes of Age page
235)
Carl
Jung’s conversation with Rowland H. is described on pages 26, 27 of
the “Big Book.”
*1931
was an approximate date given by Bill W in his letter to Carl Jung.
Recent historians place the date Rowland H. being a patient of Carl
Jung to be 1926; evidence found in family papers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowland_Hazard_III
(our emphases)
Comment:
AA has NO place for religious dogma (take note Dick B and other
Oxford Group fundamentalists), NO place for 'grand standers' (ditto
for sundry so-called 'personalities'! eg . Clancy I et al etc etc )
and ABSOLUTELY NO place for medical 'experts' (other than those
suitably qualified – which would exclude plumbers!)
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
