Questions (not) accepted for conference 2016 (contd)

Answer: No. See Tradition Five:

“Five—Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” (short form)

“5.—Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose —that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” (long form) (our emphasis)

Note the use of the word “its” …... and draw ANY consequent conclusions

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Bill Wilson talking about the Traditions - Tradition Five

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The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ...and rather fond of the Traditions too!)

The AA Preamble – contd

Here it is: 

“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.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. 

AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

(our emphases)
 

Tradition Five: 

“Five—Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” (short form) 

“5.—Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose—that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” (long form)

This last section of the preamble contains much for reflection especially when it comes to the notion of sobriety. Apart from its usual connotation (especially within the context of AA), ie. complete, life-long abstinence from the consumption of alcohol, the expression also suggests (from the above definitions) “gravity in bearing, manner, or treatment”, “seriousness or solemnity” and most importantly, from our perspective at least, “the quality of refraining from excess”. Therefore a sober individual will be one who necessarily embodies that attribute in thought, word and deed. But the very antithesis of this behaviour is exemplified by members of the cult who stridently proclaim the superiority of their recovery over all others and who eagerly lay down a whole raft of “suggestions” (cult speak for 'rules) with which failure to comply it is implied will lead to relapse. Newcomers are presented with a dogma which has little to do with either the AA fellowship or its programme. Some of the worst offenders are those who claim some 'special' acquaintance with the basic text of AA, 'Alcoholics Anonymous' (frequently referred to as the Big Book) but who seem by some extraordinary mischance to have failed to read Chapter Seven, “Working With Others”, where a number of proposals are put forward as to the nature of the relationship that might exist between existing members and people new to the fellowship (one example being the exposition of the text presented by 'circuit speakers' Joe and Charlie who, apart from a couple of passing references to the aforementioned chapter, fail to make any further comment on its content (an omission which reflects in particular Joe's disinclination to follow the advice contained therein, this part of his 'study' being more a reflection of his own prejudices than a serious attempt to make the text more accessible. So much for their 'Big Book study'!) For our part we suggest to anyone new to AA that they read the text for themselves (and any other AA conference approved literature) as a preliminary and then draw whatever conclusions they like. The AA programme does not require suspension of any or all critical faculties nor does it recommend the services of an 'interpreter' (self-appointed or otherwise). Moreover such an approach ensures the development of a more precise focus on the “principles” of the recovery programme rather than getting caught up with the various so-called 'personalities' in AA of which we have more than enough! eg. Joe, Charlie, Clancy, the Dallas Cowboys, sundry Davids (who seem to multiply with each passing day), and whole flotillas of Waynes (similarly) and so on ad infinitum... None of these are in any way 'essential' to recovery and may easily be dispensed with!

AA literature:

Books

Pamphlets

Miscellaneous

Box 4-5-9 - News and Notes from G.S.O.

A.A. Guidelines

Newsletters

Service Material 

With regard to purchasing AA literature see our views here.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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Tradition Five, Grapevine, September, 1952, Bill W

See also Links and downloads

Editorial: On the 5th Tradition, Grapevine, April, 1948, Bill W

See also Links and downloads

Tradition Five

Short form:

"Five—Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."

Long form:

"5.—Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose—that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."

(our emphases)

A pretty straightforward, uncomplicated guideline (emphasised by the word "ought"). The term "spiritual" as usual is slightly problematic and understood necessarily according to interpretation (which varies widely - thankfully - within AA). However the word "entity" might be worth having a look at:

1. Something that exists as a particular and discrete unit: Persons and corporations are equivalent entities under the law.
2. The fact of existence; being.
3. The existence of something considered apart from its properties.

The 3rd definition suggests that an AA group might be considered to exist as something quite apart from its properties - or to put it another way - it is some thing more than the sum of these, and which properties include its 'parts', ie. the members of this particular AA group. From this it would follow that a group is not simply an aggregation of individuals competing to further their own particular agenda, and possibly forming factions to promote these, but a co-operative inspired by a common cause, which causes takes precedence over ego-driven ambition. This principle serves further to emphasise the necessity of ensuring that a group is neither 'driven' by a single individual nor by a "clique" but that every voice is given equal weight - and is equally heard - and this without direction or manipulation by any other (in the case of the cult groups, the All-Knowing, All-Seeing and quite probably All-Dancing Sponsor). From this derives what is called the "group conscience" this conscience informed finally, and essentially, by a higher principle which some may call God - and then again some may not.

Honest (and dishonest) sharing

"The pledge : 'When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA to be there, and for that I am responsible'

Tradition 5: 'Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic that still suffers'

Something I have found key recently is the need for honesty. Honesty for me is one of the main components within recovery. To admit what we were, and are, is a huge step forward - only when we do this can we truly start to recover.

Honesty must also be carried forth when sharing at meetings. I have attended certain groups where the sharing is uniform and all too squeaky clean. It is important to be aware of what you are sharing and how this will affect the newcomer. I have experienced meetings where the sharing from the core of the group is all the same. Everyone has been rocketed into the 4th dimension. How everything is just perfect. How they have a life beyond their wildest dreams. Quite often there is a heavy emphasis on the book, sponsorship, with an undertone that if these avenues are not explored something unpleasant will happen to the poor newcomer. Though I am an advocate of the big book, the steps and a sponsor, ramming it down some poor newcomer's throat, in my honest opinion, serves as nothing more than repelling them away and damaging the reputation of the majority of AA people who genuinely care.

I have experienced people sharing about how the groups they were in were all sharing about how great things were - the person concerned was puzzled as they did not feel that way. In my view I don't feel that it is possible to have sunshine beaming from every pore all day every day. No one can never have a bad day. Sometimes when I hear this uniform drivel it smacks of religious frenzy. Whether the individuals are aware of the detrimental effect this manufactured, repetitive spiel has on newcomers is another debate entirely. I know it's not good though.

The obstacles and sometimes painful experiences that sobriety throws at us do not disappear simply because we have taken the steps and worked the programme. It is important to recognise that as we live life on life's terms we find that yes, real life can be bloody hard at times. It is important that we stay positive, but also reflect that this recovery business can be bloody hard work at times. What I have seen as a result of the uniform 'happy, joyous and free' gang is that newcomers come in, can't relate to feeling great all day every day and assume one of two things - 1) That whatever is going on they can't get it because they don't relate to the drones sharing and 2) That because they don't feel that way all day every day - AA must be a load of cobblers and they go on their merry way confused and back out of the door. In my experience, meetings where people are brutally honest are shunned and deemed 'sick' - their crime, telling it how it really is. Why is this?

There is no doubt in my mind that AA works, and life does get better, but a reality check is also needed.

On the level of personal responsibility, I feel that it is also our duty to be very cautious about becoming part of a group within a group. I feel it can be damaging on 2 fronts. It can alienate the newcomer entirely and lead to them leaving the group and possibly AA. I have also seen instances where the individual goes down the dishonesty route. They want to become part of the inner circle and therefore share dishonestly just to fit in. After all - the big book says ' no man wants to admit that he is bodily or mentally different from his fellows'. Being caught in this rut also discourages regular members from attending other meetings - thus denying them a mix and range of different views and sharing, denying them the experience or a bigger range of human experience in AA. In cases like this, the path really does become narrower, and eventually so do people's viewpoints.

Don't get me wrong, a good dose of common sense and balance is always a great remedy for the above, but we are talking about people who are new to the fellowship and may well be desperate.

I hope the above points are valid for anyone reading.“

(our thanks to the AA member who sent in this contribution)

Cheers

The Fellas