Some reflections ….....

Extracts from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch under thread: “aacultwatch forum daily reflections”

“It is traditional in Alcoholics Anonymous that we do not make speeches.” – Bill W (Bill W. A.A. Comes of Age page 52)

“Don’t applaud me. Don’t applaud any alcoholic”- Dr. Bob (Dr. Bob and the Good old Timers page 221)

“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)

“Of highest importance would be our relations with medicine and with religion. Under no circumstances must we get into competition with either. If we appeared to be a new religious sect, we’d certainly be done for. And if we moved into the medical field, as such, the result would be the same.” – Bill W. 1955

(AA Grapevine June 1955, Language of the Heart page 150)

John S. Describes Dr. Bob:

"At this 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" - John S (Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers page 276)

1939, New York A.A. meetings led by Bill W:

"At this time there were no 90-days requirements. No birthdays – no recognition was made if you sober a week or a year, If you felt you would like to speak in a year or in a month or two weeks they let you get up and speak, and they didn’t throw you out if you were drunk, either. - Ruth Hock; the first Secretary of GSO New York (Pass it on page 219)

1940s Akron Meetings led by Dr. Bob:

“Oldtimers remember early meetings as being pretty much the same as they are now, with a few exceptions. There was no chairperson or secretary to introduce the speaker. Through the mid - 1940’s, it was felt that grand titles and flowery introductions might go to an alcoholic’s head.” (Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers page 220)

“There was no levity in the beginning.’ said Bob E. ‘We all had our sense of humor, but for us, recovery was a life - or - death matter. Nor was there any clapping. At that kind of meeting, applause would have been out of place.” (Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers page 221)

Comment: Compare and contrast these approaches (all derived from AA conference approved literature) with those endorsed by the cult ….... Any similarities? None!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)