Stepstudy.org

Soul Surgery was first published in India I believe. A copy was very expensive and hard to come by. I’d sure recommend it to anyone who wants to see the first significant Oxford Group book. It was penned by Walter, Wright, and Buchman in parts. It certainly lays out the five C’s which are the heart of the middle A.A. Steps. Good for Step Study in making it available now.

Who wrote “Becoming Recovered” – it’s really, really well done.

Whenever one purports to write about the origins of A.A., it short-changes the article when so much emphasis is placed on the Oxford Group. There were in fact some sixteen influences on the A.A. program. And the discussion should start with the Bible, Quiet Time, conversion, reading of literature and devotionals, Anne Smith’s Journal, Dr. William Silkworth, Professor William James, Carl Jung, Lay therapist Richard Peabody, hospitalization, fellowship, the teachings of Rev. Samue M. Shoemaker who was called a cofounder of A.A. by Wilson, the 28 Oxford Group principles that impacted on A.A., and the all important element of witnessing–working with others–focusing on the newcomer.

And, Billy S., whoever you are, just what is the “Jesus talk?” Stick to the facts, and people will be blessed if and when you state and report them correctly. There is enough history to go around without obviously insulting remarks.

Stopping by for a look-see. Because I know so many of the people named in the by-lines, I drop by this site occasionally. I also post occasionally. I cannot say I agree with every direction the site takes or every comment made. But that’s true for AA itself, for alcoholics, for churches, and for politicians. However, it’s always tough when ad hominem attacks and criticisms appear. And that’s pretty rare on this site. It’s rampant on a very few others that also purvey history.

When I see the finger pointing, I remember the two rules that are helpful.(1) Whenever one points a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at him. (2) More directly applicable to an AA is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount–which early AAs considered absolutely essential to their program. And, the words or gist of Matthew 7:1-5 appear with some frequency in early A.A. comments. The verses say:”Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

For those who look at our history before they jump, just look at the Oxford Group expressions which crept into our Big Book and Steps. Mainly, look for the injunction that suggests: “What was our part.”

Pardon those of us who look to the Scriptures, as early AAs did. But when asked about the program, Dr. Bob’s usual response was “What does it say in the Good Book?”

God Bless, Dick B. http://www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.

Well, I might have liked this site until I followed the Big Book Videos link to the Plymouth House assisted videos where members who reveal their faces and first names break Tradition 11 – please review your content here and ask yourselves if the whole of AA may be being harmed by some of the content of this site.

Amazing resource. THANK YOU!

What happen to the Videos of people spraking about their process of the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous?