Big Book Page 522 – Freedom From Bondage Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t hedge its bets when it comes to resentments. The book goes all in. It even goes as far as to say resentments kill more alcoholics than anything, unexpectedly saying “from it stem all forms of spiritual disease.” The manner in which I envision this … Read More
Do Character Defects Suggest A Moral Failing? Critics of the Twelve Steps often bemoan the topic of character defects. Particularly pop psychologists who cringe at the thought of anything being intrinsically wrong with people. “Addiction is a brain disease!” they shout from the damn rooftops. Addicts are not responsible for their disease but for their … Read More
AA Hopelessness…a startling contradiction? Flip through the first few chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous and you’ll notice some contradictory material. On one page is the repeated refrain of alcoholic “hopelessness” and on the other the bold declaration that an alcoholic can be totally “recovered “ You read that right, not perpetually in recovery, nor recovering, but … Read More
(Before the Big Book) AA’s First Five Years As Luis Remembers Lois W., wife of AA’s co-founder, Bill W., recalls the time in AA when there were few members and no Big Book. In fact, she recounts the first five years before the Big Book! Copyright © AA Grapevine, Inc, January 1967 ==> Read more … Read More
Is AA A Cult? Let’s Start With A Definition of Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share a common purpose of helping one another stay sober from alcohol. Other fellowships exist that have borrowed the major tenets of the program but wanted to broaden its scope to other … Read More
AA Symbol…AA History Some AAs rave about it. Others give it little thought. But the truth is the AA Symbol of Recovery has been the subject of controversy, celebration, and dismissal since its advent. Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was somewhat of a mystic. He loved symbolic means of communicating seemingly ineffable experiences. … Read More