Is this factual?

[corvus_corax]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]From another forum (not CF) that I was reading-

"Bill Wilson was an agnostic-bordering-on-atheist. Among other reasons, Bill was having trouble staying sober because much of the available help at the time (churches, the Canterbury groups) were religion-based. Bill espoused the idea of a "Higher Power" only after complaining to a friend about how people wanted him to become religious in order to get sober, who replied with "Why not believe in a God of your own understanding?"

A great number of alcoholics were and are devout anti-Christians, or at least recovering Christians (usually recovering Catholics, followed by recovering Baptists). Anybody in an AA meeting trying to "convert" anybody else into any branch of Christianity is a) acting contrary to the principle of AA and b) really, really barking up the wrong tree."

I personally like the concept of "a god of your own understanding".

Is this story factual or just a nicely put together urban legend?
[/FONT]

 

[madison1101]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]From another forum (not CF) that I was reading-[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Bill Wilson was an agnostic-bordering-on-atheist. Among other reasons, Bill was having trouble staying sober because much of the available help at the time (churches, the Canterbury groups) were religion-based. Bill espoused the idea of a "Higher Power" only after complaining to a friend about how people wanted him to become religious in order to get sober, who replied with "Why not believe in a God of your own understanding?"[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]A great number of alcoholics were and are devout anti-Christians, or at least recovering Christians (usually recovering Catholics, followed by recovering Baptists). Anybody in an AA meeting trying to "convert" anybody else into any branch of Christianity is a) acting contrary to the principle of AA and b) really, really barking up the wrong tree."[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]I personally like the concept of "a god of your own understanding".[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Is this story factual or just a nicely put together urban legend?[/FONT]

Bill Wilson writes about his spiritual experience in the AA Big Book, which you can read at www.aa.org

The concept of a God of our understanding was not for Bill Wilson, but for the third member of AA.

Prior to AA, Bill Wilson tried to get sober with the Oxford Group, which was a Christian group.

 

[Red A.]

There are several stories left behind about how "god as I understand him and Power greater than ourselves came about, and the truth is that Bill W was trying to be diplomatic in delicate situations so as not to step on anyones toes.

The fact of the matter is that the wishy washy language in the AA program was inserted because certain segments of Christianity are functionally incapable of getting along with other segments of Christianity and the language is in there like that so as to leave doctrine and dogma arguments outside the doors of AA and allow as many drunks in the door as possible.

 

[rgauth180]

Thank You Madison well done. I am thankful for Bill and think he & his wife as God's servents. Bill has saved millions and even after his death w/ his Simple Program for complicated people continues to save alcoholics from death in mind & spirit. Only God could have directed him to include everyone. Just as Jesus left us with one comandment, Love Everyone. The Only requirement is a desire to Stop Drinking. Bill warns that there will come a day when nothing will keep me away from a drink except God and may I find him NOW. It is not important to me what he was but what he became and that will go for me also. I read, Religion is for people that want to stay out of hell. Spirituality is for people that have been there. Bill's program is about living in the spirit. Blessings to all loveyou

 

[rturner76]

If I may add:
When the original member or "AA" were writing the book, they wanted it to be applicable to as many people as possible. Many people even at the mention of the word God would walk right out the door and never return. I understand that Bill was agnostic but did believe in "God" but not a religious God.

AA groups were founded as a result of studying the book of Alcaholics Anonymous not the other way around. They wrote the book first (that first core group) so it was a book written by about a dozen people's input. A God of your understanding was because some in the group were strainght Athiests hard core. They saw the group as their higher power. The only reason for the book and the group was to stop drinking and nothing else but there was a side effect of the 12 steps. People started to be better people. If everyone lived by the 12 steps, Christ's vision would be realized in every person. The actual 12 steps were taken or a variation of them were taken from "The Oxford Group which was a Episcopailian Evengelical organization I believe. THere was a couple problems. No blacks and no women allowed and the final goal was to bring you to Christ. All the steps, you replace Higher power with Jesus Christ. The final Step is one more about spreading the Gospel than helping another alcaholic stay sober.

AA is a program based on submission. The first step is like saying "I can't" the second is like saying "he or it can" the thire is "I think I'll let him/it" 1,2,3 can GET you sober, wheather you STAY sober depends on how you work the rest of the steps with a sponsor. It's an awsome program especially in that they have principles that won't allow them to focus on anything but helpong people get sober. Nothing else. That's another reason it's higher power. Church is encouraged as these are spiritual principles in the steps but learn about God in church, learn about staying sober in AA.

Excellent question, makes me want to hit a meeting. Oh and BTW, there are Christian groups that have adopted the 12 step model and added Christian principles where it talks about higher power. Then it is supported with Bible study. Twin Town in Minneapolis does this and they have a big success record.

God bless