See
AA History Lovers for more
Extract:
“The
only "definitive must statements" in the Big Book apply to
the people who wrote it; they were scrupulously careful not to impose
those imperatives on anyone else.
(See the annotations in the original manuscript to note how the compilers of the Big Book and their advisers bent over backwards to take out prescriptive language: The Book That Started It All, Hazelden 2010).
"The Big Book says 'Here are the Steps we took' ... so we'd better took 'em." (Where did I read that?) It's sound advice, but not compulsory. Let's stick to the history.
"You may already have asked yourself why it is that all of us became so very ill from drinking. Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking - 'What do I have to do?' It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done ..." (Big Book, chapter 2, There is a Solution, emphasis added).
The logical, grammatical answer to the question, "What do I have to do?" is, "You must do this" (E.g. Acts 16:30-31: "[The jailer] brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved' ...)"
Bill W. said to Fr Marcus O'Brien, "It must (sic!) never be forgotten that the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to sober up alcoholics. There is no religious or spiritual requirement for membership. No demands are made on anyone. An experience is offered which members may accept or reject. It is up to them." (Quoted by Robert Fitzgerald, SJ, in The Soul of Sponsorship; Hazelden, 1995).
"Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. All of its 12 Steps are but suggestions..." (12&12, Step Two). "We beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start." (Big Book, chapter five, How It Works). Anyone who has to beg cannot demand.
This exchange took place between Winston Churchill, when he was UK prime minister, and his education minister R A B Butler; " 'What could be done', wondered Churchill, 'to make children more patriotic? Tell them Wolfe won Quebec,' he mused. Butler replied, 'I would like to influence what was taught in schools but this was always frowned on.' 'Of course,' Churchill rejoined. 'Not by instruction or order but by suggestion'." (Source unknown).
AA's 12 Steps are "guides to progress", suggested - not mandatory (Big Book, chapter five); the word instructions does not appear anywhere in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.
"All faiths need a sacred text. It should be independent of the High Priesthood, a keeper of memories, prophetic in judgment and imagination, and with a touch of irreverent wit. It's a big help if the faithful come to believe it is well nigh infallible." (Robert Runcie, former Anglican archbishop of Canterbury).
"The ideal spiritual director (sponsor?) is summed up in this reflection by Paul of Hungary (12th century). 'Let him be inclined to correct kindly and to bear the weight himself. He must be gentle and affectionate, merciful to the faults of others. He shall act with discernment in different cases. Let him aid his penitent with prayer, alms and other good works. He is to help him by calming his fears, consoling him, giving him back hope and, if need be, by reproving him. Let him show compassion in his words and teach by his deeds. Let him take part in the sorrow, if he wishes to share in the joy. He must inculcate perseverance'." (Last two entries: sources unknown, but copied into my Big Book over the years).”
(See the annotations in the original manuscript to note how the compilers of the Big Book and their advisers bent over backwards to take out prescriptive language: The Book That Started It All, Hazelden 2010).
"The Big Book says 'Here are the Steps we took' ... so we'd better took 'em." (Where did I read that?) It's sound advice, but not compulsory. Let's stick to the history.
"You may already have asked yourself why it is that all of us became so very ill from drinking. Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking - 'What do I have to do?' It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done ..." (Big Book, chapter 2, There is a Solution, emphasis added).
The logical, grammatical answer to the question, "What do I have to do?" is, "You must do this" (E.g. Acts 16:30-31: "[The jailer] brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved' ...)"
Bill W. said to Fr Marcus O'Brien, "It must (sic!) never be forgotten that the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to sober up alcoholics. There is no religious or spiritual requirement for membership. No demands are made on anyone. An experience is offered which members may accept or reject. It is up to them." (Quoted by Robert Fitzgerald, SJ, in The Soul of Sponsorship; Hazelden, 1995).
"Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. All of its 12 Steps are but suggestions..." (12&12, Step Two). "We beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start." (Big Book, chapter five, How It Works). Anyone who has to beg cannot demand.
This exchange took place between Winston Churchill, when he was UK prime minister, and his education minister R A B Butler; " 'What could be done', wondered Churchill, 'to make children more patriotic? Tell them Wolfe won Quebec,' he mused. Butler replied, 'I would like to influence what was taught in schools but this was always frowned on.' 'Of course,' Churchill rejoined. 'Not by instruction or order but by suggestion'." (Source unknown).
AA's 12 Steps are "guides to progress", suggested - not mandatory (Big Book, chapter five); the word instructions does not appear anywhere in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.
"All faiths need a sacred text. It should be independent of the High Priesthood, a keeper of memories, prophetic in judgment and imagination, and with a touch of irreverent wit. It's a big help if the faithful come to believe it is well nigh infallible." (Robert Runcie, former Anglican archbishop of Canterbury).
"The ideal spiritual director (sponsor?) is summed up in this reflection by Paul of Hungary (12th century). 'Let him be inclined to correct kindly and to bear the weight himself. He must be gentle and affectionate, merciful to the faults of others. He shall act with discernment in different cases. Let him aid his penitent with prayer, alms and other good works. He is to help him by calming his fears, consoling him, giving him back hope and, if need be, by reproving him. Let him show compassion in his words and teach by his deeds. Let him take part in the sorrow, if he wishes to share in the joy. He must inculcate perseverance'." (Last two entries: sources unknown, but copied into my Big Book over the years).”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
