Conference questions (2014) ….. almost!

“25. Should the book ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ and the 12 step recovery programme be the primary focus and emphasis of all AA groups?

Background

I have attended several meetings since 28/01/2006, my sobriety date, where the emphasis on the Big book & 12 step message was not at all clear. Moreover, some meetings I have attended have spoken against the Big Book and its 12 steps. Is this why the Fellowship was named after the book; and should the Fellowship as a whole reignite the key importance and sole purpose of an AA group, that of the 12 step recovery message, contained in the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous?

Terms of Reference No. 7 Covered by Traditions 2 and 4”

Comment: It's also worth noting that the preamble clearly states:

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.”

It is entirely possible that a member of AA has chosen NOT to do the steps (or at least not in the form they are presented in the above text) and yet has somehow managed to get and remain sober (irony). It is equally possible to get and remain sober without believing in God (in the orthodox sense), without praying (on your knees or in any other position), without the services of a sponsor (or any other self-appointed 'expert' on recovery) and so on. In fact alcoholics are capable of all sorts of remarkable things if they only put their minds and hearts to it. Moreover:

“We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, Appendix II, Spiritual Experience) (our emphasis)

Open mindedness means precisely that – being open to other possibilities, a faculty which is in especially short supply in cult circles. 'It's our way or the highway' is NOT the AA way.

See here for a full list of other questions that didn't quite get through the 'filter'

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)