Comments on: Gresham’s Law and Alcholics Anonymous (By Tom P. Jr.)

By: Bob Foran

Bob Foran — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:19:34 +0000

Been constantly in recovery from alcoholism (pure) since 2000, seen newcomers spreading the mess while those with time listen. Yet those of us who try to share the solution are ignored & sometime snubbed.

By: DW

DW — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:58:37 +0000

While some who practice a mild or weak program fail to achieve a spiritual experience others who practice a mild program (weak I am not so sure) do in time. The description of all such old timers as unhappy, sick, bored, etc. is simply not true. I have known some like that and some not. The rejection of the appendix on the spiritual experience is the core of this article.
I might add that one could write a similar article on some of the “strong” practitioners and point out their tendencies toward spiritual arrogance and sense of superiority. (In a world since 1976 where we have seen this occur in other spiritual and religious paths as well.) But that would an unfair article if it, too, said all such “strong” practitioners were like that.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:17:40 +0000

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!!

By: accufateews

accufateews — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:05:57 +0000

Thanks for posting

By: Lydia

Lydia — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:12:13 +0000

Wow. Thank you for this. It comes to me at the right time. I’m currently 24 years sober and looking for a deeper program within the program. Nice to know (though of course I knew) that I am not alone.