Extracts
from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch
under thread: “aacultwatch forum daily reflections”
“About
the Akron A.A.’s break with the Oxford Group, very little was set
down in writing. Nor did Dr. Bob ever say much about the matter…”
(Dr. Bob and the Good old Timers page 212)
“On
the second day of New Year, 1940, Dr. Bob wrote Bill: ‘Have
definitely shaken off the shackles of the Oxford Group’ (a
choice of words indicates his attitude then) ‘and are meeting round
my house for the time being. Had 74 Wednesday in my little house, but
shall get a hall soon.’ … … … After a few meetings, Wally G.
checked Kings School, where his daughter went. From then on it was
every Wednesday night for the Kings school group,” (Dr. Bob and The
Good Old timers pages 218-219)
“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.” (Dr. Bob and the
Good Old Timers page 161)
“Dr.
Bob sought to discover and familiarize himself with the spiritual
laws in great part through his reading, which was extensive… … …
... ... ...‘He read about every religion,’ said Smitty,
‘not only the Christian religion. He could tell you about the
Koran, Confucius, even voodooism, and many other things…’ ”
(Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers pages 309-310)
“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.” (Saturday
Evening Post 1941; The Jack Alexander article about AA page 19)
“As
finally expressed and offered, they [The Twelve Steps] are simple in
language, plain in meaning. They are also workable by any person
having a sincere desire to obtain and keep sobriety. The results are
proof. Their simplicity and workability are such that no special
interpretations, and certainly no reservations, have ever been
necessary” - Dr. Bob (Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers page 227)
“Dr.
Bob never talked much about religion, but he was a very religious
person. Whenever he got stuck about something, he always prayed about
it. But that wasn’t something he spread around. It was his own
private attitude.” – Elgie R. (Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers
page 314)
“But,
Smitty noted, his father didn’t come on strong about philosophy
or religion with others, because he didn’t want to scare them off.”
(Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers page 310)
(our
emphases)
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
