Stepstudy.org

This article by Tom P., Jr. was published in 1976. Its doomsday prediction for AA if members failed to “return” to the “strong AA” (read old-time AA) has not materialized in the last 33 years. I frequently hear variations on this fear-based theme in meetings. It is suspiciously similar to the call for a “return” to the “old time religion” heard in many churches on Sunday mornings. However, as I read Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book), the Program of Recovery is a path alcoholics’ experience has proved an effective way for an alcoholic to accept spiritual help – as opposed to human aid. So the undelying idea of this essay – that strong AA rather than medium AA or weak AA works to get and keep people sober demonstrates the author’s basic misunderstanding – that the Program of Recovery gets people sober and keeps them sober. Only a Higher Power (God) performs this miracle – and the Program of Recovery is not God, just an experience proven path to the consciousness of a connection to a Higher Power (God). It is always well to remember Rule 62 – Don’t take yourself so damn seriously!!