Once again, I remind the reader that I've written extensively on every aspect of the Oxford Group and its relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous. See www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml - "The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works."
I've also published many articles on the Oxford Group Four Absolutes. These were highly favored in early Akron and Cleveland A.A. and by A.A. Co-founder Dr. Bob.
Nonetheless, people have had a field day trying to describe the sources and meaning of the Four Absolutes. Some have claimed they came from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. But they didn't. Some have written pamphlets on what they thought the Four Absolutes should mean. And a few recognized that they came from the teachings of Robert Speer in his book "The Principles of Jesus." Which they did. Some have added Bible verses and private interpretations which shed little light on the origin and purpose of these "moral standards" as they were called by the Oxford Groupers and by Dr. Bob's wife Anne in her journal www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml.
What I found recently on re-reading the highly popular Oxford Group book published just before early A.A. was founded in 1935 is very very helpful.
A.J. Russell published "For Sinners Only" (NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1932). He did a great job of describing the Oxford Group principles and practices as they were understood by the Oxford Group activists and writers of the 1930's, by Rev. Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr.--who wrote about them also, and by the many AAs who gobbled up the pages of Russell's "For Sinners Only."
And the pioneer AAs were able to read a thorough exposition of what Absolute Honesty, Absolute Purity, Absolute Love, and Absolute Unselfishnes seemed to mean to the people who popularized these four "moral standards" which Dr. Bob called the "yardsticks" for moral behavior in early A.A.
Russell's Chapter Twenty-Two ("What Sin Is") has been discussed in my previous article on "self" and A.A. But now I point to the extended explanation by Russell of each of the Four Absolutes.
Beginning on page 269, Russell says: "Christianity has a moral backbone. And let us take for convenience four of the simple moral standards that we see in Christ's own life--honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. Those standards are absolute. No one has ever yet proved He compromised on any one of those four. Let us take them one by one and see how we measure up to His standard."
Note that they were regarded as "yardsticks," "standards on which Christ did not compromise," and a "moral test" (as Dr. Bob's wife put it) that was originally used as the basis for what became Step Four--a moral inventory.
To get the picture as Russell, the Oxford Group, and AAs were seeing it in the 1930's, I'd suggest you download the Russell book and look here:
Honesty - Pages 269-271
Purity - Page 271
Love - Pages 272-273
Unselfishness - Pages 273-277
Bill Wilson waffled in his embrace of the Four Absolutes. He made fun of them. He said they demanded too much of drunks. He even inserted a "spiritual progress, but not spiritual perfection" loophole. He later said he had incorporated the ideas in Steps Six and Seven. And he demonstrated, beyond a doubt, that he really didn't understand them, like them, or even adhere to them in his own shenanigans in sobriety.
As readers know, I emphasize the Bible roots of early A.A. (www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml). So, quite clearly, did Dr. Bob. I point out that the real Oxford Group approach is to be found in the compromised program established by Wilson in his 1939 Big Book (www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml; and www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml).
Regrettably, most AAs today don't have before them the Bible verses that Robert Speer quoted to establish what he believed were the uncompromising "principles" of Jesus. Nor do they have before them the topical Oxford Group writings of authors like A.J. Russell. But if they want a real view of how those "standards," "yardsticks," "tests," and "lists" were viewed at the time they became popular in A.A., Russell's book is the place to look.
www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml; dickb@dickb.com
Gloria Deo
Showing posts with label California Meetings on AA History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California Meetings on AA History. Show all posts
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
AA History - Christian Recovery Movement: Dick B. Talk
The 2010 Annual Christian Addiction Professionals Conference was held this year November 19th to 21st at Palm Springs, California.
A.A.'s Leading Christian Historian Dick B. of Kihei, Hawaii, was a principal speaker at the Conference. His major subject was Alcoholics Anonymnous History and The New Christian Recovery Program Movement - the New Wave.
Synopsis of the Dick B. Talk:
Four Stories about the Gap in Alcoholics Anonymous History:
A young alcoholic John asked Dick if he knew A.A. came from the Bible. Answer: No
Dr. Bob's son "Smitty" was asked by Dick to endorse his forthcoming book on Rev.
Sam Shoemaker's role in A.A. and with the Steps. Smitty said: "Who is he"
The author of "Not-God" recently explained that no signficant research had been
made into the Akron scene due to financial limitations and the thought that
the facts were primarily to be found in the East.
Dr. Robert Schuller was on the "Hour of Power" program and went into great lengths
to point out that he had searched long and hard to see if A.A. had Bible
roots; and said he had found the answer in Dick B.'s The Good Book and The Big
Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml
The heavy price paid by Christians in recovery because of the A.A. history gap:
Due to the abysmal lack of research, there is little knowledge of the full history
Into the vacuum have flowed idolatry, "spirituality," "choose your own conception
of a "god," absurd concepts of an "higher power"--light bulb, door, radiator.
More on the way toeday: Literature telling AAs they don't need to believe in
anything at all, and now that there should be new literature telling how
atheists can "take" and "work" the 12 Steps.
The Alcoholics Anonymous History which is the focus of Dick B. research and books
Role of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the recovery movement.
Origins of Christian recovery movement and "Old School" A.A. original program
Applying the foregoing historical facts in recovery today.
The call for a stronger, broader, licensed, well-trained cadre of Christian Counselors
Dick B. was never introduced to this resource - through psychiatry, Alcoholics
Anonymous, therapy, a treatment program, or a VA psychiatric organization
The need is for a complete Christian Recovery Program today:
Qualifying the newcomer, hospitalization, orientation, routing; and this is
the area of opportunity for the Christian counselor.
There is a new Christian Recovery Movement wave in process, and it offers hope!
On Christian Counseling:
There is a call for expanding this realm because:
Growing distance from Almighty God in 12 Step movements; danger of seizures and DT
the absence of God in most treatment programs; and the diminishing support for
Alcoholics Anonymous in the growing psychological treatment ideas.
Opportunities for Christian counseling: (1) Initial assessment - qualifying the
newcomer, introducing to God and Jesus Christ, assuring detox or medical help,
routing the Christian after initial assessment. (2) Orientation to what early
A.A. was about: "Introductions to Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFCR-
Class.shtml; and "The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide," 3rd ed, 2010
www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml. (3)The need of the Christian newcomer
today--intervention; explanation of the 12 Steps, Bible, history; what
Christianity offers to recovery; what the Bible offers; and what prayer offers;
(4) Routing to the complete Christian recovery resources.
What the Christian counselor can do: (1) Explain the original, successful
Christian Fellowship program of Akron. (2) Counter the distortions today --
idolatry,"higher power" nonsense, lack of need for belief, New Age spiritality
words and ideas; and real program and purpose of the 12 Steps as Dr. Bob saw
them.(3) Saturate the newcomer with a genuine, tolerant, service-oriented
Christian recovery program
On an effective Christian Recovery Program;
KNOWING where the early A.A. Christian Fellowship program in Akron came from;
(1) No Steps. (2) Christian organizations. (3) Boyhood Christian upbringing of
Dr. Bob and Bill W. (4) How the first three got sober. (5) The original program
summary in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. (6) The 14 practices of the early
fellowship. (7)The astonishing 75% success rate.
KNOWING the origins of the 12 Steps better to understand and to avoid distortions:
(1) Dr. Bob said the basic ideas came from the Bible and that the three essential
parts were the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13. (2)
The language and ideas of the Big Book and 12 Steps came primarily from the
teachings of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. (3) How the proposed 12 Step program
was changed in order to appease atheists and agnostics.
KNOWING how to "take" the Twelve Steps.
LEARN THEIR PLAIN OBJECTIVE: (1) Relationship with God. (2) Attaining recovery.
(3) Being cured by the power of God.
AVOID INVENTING NEW 12 STEP PROGRAMWS - the influence of the Adversary in detours.
Why "recovery" Bibles; Why so many different "Step Guides;" substituting the
"Beatitudes" for the 12 Steps; claiming a bogus "back to basics."
SATURATE the Christian newcomer--just as they did in Akron--with Bible, prayer,
testimonies, events.
UNDERLINE SIMPLICITY: Abstain from liquor; submit to God and come to Him through
Jesus Christ; Obey God's will; Grow in fellowship through Bible study, prayer,
God's guidance, Christian devotionals, and literature; Help others; Pattern the
program on First Century Christianity as described in the Books of Acts.
On growing a new wave Christian recovery movement:
Participating in the rapidly growing International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Christian Recovery Fellowships such as those now bursting in San Diego, Costa
Mesa, Huntington Beach, Antioch, Livermore, and Oroville, California
Christian Treatment Programs such as those in ABC Sober Living Soledad House,
Calvary Ranch, New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., and Dunklin Memorial Church.
Christian alcoholism and addiction counselors - such as Association of Christian
Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute
Christian Residential Treatment such as those conducted by CityTeam Ministries
Christian Sober Living Facilities - such as ABC Sober Living in San Diego
Conducting or outsourcing to conversion meetings, Bible teaching and
studies, prayer groups and meetings, religious gatherings, speaker meetings.
Embracing church and recovery pastors
Establishing Christian Recovery Centers which can handle the newcomer, route that
newcomer, provide resources, and link the Christian recovery movement elements.
There are a variety of locations possible: ACADC Institute Centers, Christian
treatment programs like WonWayOut, Manna House Ministries, Church sponsored
Christian Recovery Fellowships, rescue missions, Teen Challenge locations.
Conclusion:
Counselors urged to obtain and use "Introductory Foundations for Christian
Recovery" class www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml; and "The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide," 3rd ed. www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml
ACADC Institute urged to broaden the role for its counselor training and ministry
facilities through partnerships and expansion--with advertising and publicity
Pilot Christian Recovery Programs should be established such as the one we are
undertaking in partnership with the County of Maui Salvation Army.
Conference participants urged to help us grow the new Christian Recovery Movement
worldwide - with a book, website, facebook, twitter, blog, articles, newsletters,
radio shows, forums, funding of expenses, donations.
God Bless, Dick B. dickb@dickb.com
A.A.'s Leading Christian Historian Dick B. of Kihei, Hawaii, was a principal speaker at the Conference. His major subject was Alcoholics Anonymnous History and The New Christian Recovery Program Movement - the New Wave.
Synopsis of the Dick B. Talk:
Four Stories about the Gap in Alcoholics Anonymous History:
A young alcoholic John asked Dick if he knew A.A. came from the Bible. Answer: No
Dr. Bob's son "Smitty" was asked by Dick to endorse his forthcoming book on Rev.
Sam Shoemaker's role in A.A. and with the Steps. Smitty said: "Who is he"
The author of "Not-God" recently explained that no signficant research had been
made into the Akron scene due to financial limitations and the thought that
the facts were primarily to be found in the East.
Dr. Robert Schuller was on the "Hour of Power" program and went into great lengths
to point out that he had searched long and hard to see if A.A. had Bible
roots; and said he had found the answer in Dick B.'s The Good Book and The Big
Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml
The heavy price paid by Christians in recovery because of the A.A. history gap:
Due to the abysmal lack of research, there is little knowledge of the full history
Into the vacuum have flowed idolatry, "spirituality," "choose your own conception
of a "god," absurd concepts of an "higher power"--light bulb, door, radiator.
More on the way toeday: Literature telling AAs they don't need to believe in
anything at all, and now that there should be new literature telling how
atheists can "take" and "work" the 12 Steps.
The Alcoholics Anonymous History which is the focus of Dick B. research and books
Role of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the recovery movement.
Origins of Christian recovery movement and "Old School" A.A. original program
Applying the foregoing historical facts in recovery today.
The call for a stronger, broader, licensed, well-trained cadre of Christian Counselors
Dick B. was never introduced to this resource - through psychiatry, Alcoholics
Anonymous, therapy, a treatment program, or a VA psychiatric organization
The need is for a complete Christian Recovery Program today:
Qualifying the newcomer, hospitalization, orientation, routing; and this is
the area of opportunity for the Christian counselor.
There is a new Christian Recovery Movement wave in process, and it offers hope!
On Christian Counseling:
There is a call for expanding this realm because:
Growing distance from Almighty God in 12 Step movements; danger of seizures and DT
the absence of God in most treatment programs; and the diminishing support for
Alcoholics Anonymous in the growing psychological treatment ideas.
Opportunities for Christian counseling: (1) Initial assessment - qualifying the
newcomer, introducing to God and Jesus Christ, assuring detox or medical help,
routing the Christian after initial assessment. (2) Orientation to what early
A.A. was about: "Introductions to Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFCR-
Class.shtml; and "The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide," 3rd ed, 2010
www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml. (3)The need of the Christian newcomer
today--intervention; explanation of the 12 Steps, Bible, history; what
Christianity offers to recovery; what the Bible offers; and what prayer offers;
(4) Routing to the complete Christian recovery resources.
What the Christian counselor can do: (1) Explain the original, successful
Christian Fellowship program of Akron. (2) Counter the distortions today --
idolatry,"higher power" nonsense, lack of need for belief, New Age spiritality
words and ideas; and real program and purpose of the 12 Steps as Dr. Bob saw
them.(3) Saturate the newcomer with a genuine, tolerant, service-oriented
Christian recovery program
On an effective Christian Recovery Program;
KNOWING where the early A.A. Christian Fellowship program in Akron came from;
(1) No Steps. (2) Christian organizations. (3) Boyhood Christian upbringing of
Dr. Bob and Bill W. (4) How the first three got sober. (5) The original program
summary in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. (6) The 14 practices of the early
fellowship. (7)The astonishing 75% success rate.
KNOWING the origins of the 12 Steps better to understand and to avoid distortions:
(1) Dr. Bob said the basic ideas came from the Bible and that the three essential
parts were the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13. (2)
The language and ideas of the Big Book and 12 Steps came primarily from the
teachings of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. (3) How the proposed 12 Step program
was changed in order to appease atheists and agnostics.
KNOWING how to "take" the Twelve Steps.
LEARN THEIR PLAIN OBJECTIVE: (1) Relationship with God. (2) Attaining recovery.
(3) Being cured by the power of God.
AVOID INVENTING NEW 12 STEP PROGRAMWS - the influence of the Adversary in detours.
Why "recovery" Bibles; Why so many different "Step Guides;" substituting the
"Beatitudes" for the 12 Steps; claiming a bogus "back to basics."
SATURATE the Christian newcomer--just as they did in Akron--with Bible, prayer,
testimonies, events.
UNDERLINE SIMPLICITY: Abstain from liquor; submit to God and come to Him through
Jesus Christ; Obey God's will; Grow in fellowship through Bible study, prayer,
God's guidance, Christian devotionals, and literature; Help others; Pattern the
program on First Century Christianity as described in the Books of Acts.
On growing a new wave Christian recovery movement:
Participating in the rapidly growing International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Christian Recovery Fellowships such as those now bursting in San Diego, Costa
Mesa, Huntington Beach, Antioch, Livermore, and Oroville, California
Christian Treatment Programs such as those in ABC Sober Living Soledad House,
Calvary Ranch, New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., and Dunklin Memorial Church.
Christian alcoholism and addiction counselors - such as Association of Christian
Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute
Christian Residential Treatment such as those conducted by CityTeam Ministries
Christian Sober Living Facilities - such as ABC Sober Living in San Diego
Conducting or outsourcing to conversion meetings, Bible teaching and
studies, prayer groups and meetings, religious gatherings, speaker meetings.
Embracing church and recovery pastors
Establishing Christian Recovery Centers which can handle the newcomer, route that
newcomer, provide resources, and link the Christian recovery movement elements.
There are a variety of locations possible: ACADC Institute Centers, Christian
treatment programs like WonWayOut, Manna House Ministries, Church sponsored
Christian Recovery Fellowships, rescue missions, Teen Challenge locations.
Conclusion:
Counselors urged to obtain and use "Introductory Foundations for Christian
Recovery" class www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml; and "The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide," 3rd ed. www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml
ACADC Institute urged to broaden the role for its counselor training and ministry
facilities through partnerships and expansion--with advertising and publicity
Pilot Christian Recovery Programs should be established such as the one we are
undertaking in partnership with the County of Maui Salvation Army.
Conference participants urged to help us grow the new Christian Recovery Movement
worldwide - with a book, website, facebook, twitter, blog, articles, newsletters,
radio shows, forums, funding of expenses, donations.
God Bless, Dick B. dickb@dickb.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A.A. History-Christian Origins-Conference Schedule for Sept. 2010
Itinerary now scheduled tentatively for the many conferences, meetings, and seminars Dick B. and Ken B. will be holding in California during their forthcoming trip between September 11 and October 2, 2010.
Calls are now being exchanged for specific invitations and locations, and the schedule is filling up rapidly. We therefore welcome your contact with Ken B. at 808 276 4945 or Dick B. at dickb@dickb.com in the next few days of July to see how we can bless and serve you in your area during the trip.
The tentative schedule is as follows:
1. September 12 - Orange County, with probably location in Costa Mesa Hotel: with planned meetings yet to be confirmed for Assn of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors, New Life Spiritual Recovery, Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, Celebrate a New Life, Lifelines, James Club Fellowships, His Place, Salvation Army, rescue missions, and Christian recovery leaders and facilitators, as well as A.A. and N.A. leaders in the area.
2. September 24 - Escondido and San Diego Area with Rock Recovery leaders and Neighborhood Alcoholics For Christ in Escondido, plus other Christian recovery and 12 Step leaders in the area.
3. September 29 - San Francisco Bay Area with Golden West, Cornerstone, CityTeam and other leaders of recovery fellowships in Brentwood, Oakland, Livermore, San Jose.
We have yet to confirm with these folks and have a flexible schedule at this time. It anticipates personal meetings with leaders--just as we have had on other visits, presentations to groups, conferences with counselors and program leaders, and talks to 12 Step groups, as well as a new outreach to church recovery, rescue mission, prison, homeless, sober living, and ARC leaders in these areas.
Calls are now being exchanged for specific invitations and locations, and the schedule is filling up rapidly. We therefore welcome your contact with Ken B. at 808 276 4945 or Dick B. at dickb@dickb.com in the next few days of July to see how we can bless and serve you in your area during the trip.
The tentative schedule is as follows:
1. September 12 - Orange County, with probably location in Costa Mesa Hotel: with planned meetings yet to be confirmed for Assn of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors, New Life Spiritual Recovery, Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, Celebrate a New Life, Lifelines, James Club Fellowships, His Place, Salvation Army, rescue missions, and Christian recovery leaders and facilitators, as well as A.A. and N.A. leaders in the area.
2. September 24 - Escondido and San Diego Area with Rock Recovery leaders and Neighborhood Alcoholics For Christ in Escondido, plus other Christian recovery and 12 Step leaders in the area.
3. September 29 - San Francisco Bay Area with Golden West, Cornerstone, CityTeam and other leaders of recovery fellowships in Brentwood, Oakland, Livermore, San Jose.
We have yet to confirm with these folks and have a flexible schedule at this time. It anticipates personal meetings with leaders--just as we have had on other visits, presentations to groups, conferences with counselors and program leaders, and talks to 12 Step groups, as well as a new outreach to church recovery, rescue mission, prison, homeless, sober living, and ARC leaders in these areas.
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