Aa history Lovers 2006 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
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Bob S. ************************************************ Subject: Non-Conference approved literature Dear AA Friends, Our Fourth Dimension Group's Big Book Step Study in Richmond, IN, spends the first two Tuesdays studying AA history - we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE" and sometimes A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" from Dr. Bob's Home. We make great effort to make these 90 minute sessions interesting. I have learned lot's of interesting little stories about Ebby Thacher, Rowland Hazard, Carl Jung, Rev Shoemaker, Clarence Snyder and all the rest of those early historical participants from non-conference approved materials. Here are listed a few of our current book collection: * EBBY, the man who sponsored Bill W., by Mel B. * CHILDREN OF THE HEALER, by Bob Smith and Sue Windows * DIARY OF TWO MOTORCYCLE HOBOS, by Lois Wilson, edited by Ellie Van V. * GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN THERE, by Nell Wing * HOW IT WORKED, the story of Clarence Snyder, By Mitchell K. * SISTER IGNATIA, Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Mary C. Darrah * NOT GOD, a history of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Ernest Kurtz * BILL W., by Robert Thomsen Here are a few other non-AA history books we use for reference because they were often read by early AA members: * SERMON ON THE MOUNT, BY Emmet Fox * AS A MAN THINKETH, by James Allen * THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond
Conference approved books from GSO . Bob S. ********************************************** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3379. . . . . . . . . . . . Was Bill a Swedenborgian? From: Gene . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2006 2:26:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Having done some reading on Swedenborg's beliefs and understanding of spitituality, I wonder how much Bill W. was in contact with the Swedenborgians?
teachings... Gene in Westchester ------------------------------------------------------------------ This from some of their beliefs:
Love, Swedenborg says, is the basic element of reality. It is the source of all life, the essence of God. Our souls are individual finite forms of love, our bodies serving as mirrors of that inner essence. As we live, we choose what kind of love we will be. We may choose to regard ourselves as the only reality--our own needs, desires, and feelings as all important. Or we may choose to focus on others. In the former instance, we shrink in spirit, allowing a part of our potential as loving beings to atrophy. In the latter instance, we grow spiritually, heightening our awareness of the nature of love and thus also of the nature of ourselves and God.
Truth is the way love works. Most of us sense that. Actions we perform out of love are honest actions, genuine expressions in a physical form of what love means, or the truth of love. Swedenborgians feel that ultimately the two are inseparable, a part of the same reality. Actualized love is truth, and hence faith and charity are especially significant in human living. Swedenborg defines faith as a kind of inner sight, a perception of what is true. Charity is founded in the desire to do service and live a useful life, beginning with the choice of career or life work. The spiritual life involves the active development of a useful and meaningful life in service to the betterment of the world as a whole. Whereas the religious life often connotes withdrawal from the world and life, active participation in the world is a commitment to actualizing faith and charity. The life of charity and faith parallel the union of love and truth which is the essence of God. Freedom of the Will Swedenborg emphasizes the responsibility of all people to develop their own beliefs and live their lives accordingly.
advance into light, i.e., into truths and goods of the church, or procure himself a life. Without that free will he would not be a human being but only a figure and a phantom. For his thought would be without reflection, consequently without judgment and thus in Divine things which are of the Church he would have no more ability to turn than a door without a hinge, or with one fastened with a bolt of steel. His will, too, would be devoid of decision, hence no more active towards justice or injustice than the stone on the mound under which lies a dead body...." (Coronis, 24 28) An Inner Meaning Within the Bible Swedenborg likens the Spiritual teachings to a parent teaching a child.
although he himself thinks from an interior or deeper ground. Otherwise it would be like teaching what would not be learned. (Arcana Coelestia, 2533) Thus the scriptures are written on the literal level in plain language expressing the truth and wisdom of God as it is adapted to our limited human understanding. The Bible also contains a deeper meaning, an inner essence, in addition to its obvious and overt meaning. Swedenborg notes in The True Christian Religion:
Lord, and passing through the angelic heavens, the Divine (in itself unutterable and imperceptible) became level with the perception of angels and finally the perception of man. Hence, the Word has a spiritual sense, which is within the natural, just as the soul is within the body, or as thought is in speech, or volition in action. The belief that all things have an inner reality, as well as an outer manifestation is a significant concept for the whole of Swedenborgian thought.
This, then, is the living reality of Swedenborg's teachings. In stressing freedom, diversity, and individualism, he issued a challenge to individuals, churches, and other organizations to be committed to the human growth processes and to express their personal commitment in ways as diverse as their numbers. Sensitivity to, and respect for, each individual's "internal church," or spirituality, is what Swedenborgianism is really all about. One primary pathway advocated in the Swedenborgian Church for spiritual growth is a specialized study of scripture, enabling the diligent student to become aware of the inner-penetration of nature and spirit, of our natural world here and the universal spiritual world. In addition, an expanding awareness of spiritual reality is encouraged by the exploration of dreams and by prayer and meditation practices. And perhaps the most popular of Swedenborg's spiritual growth practices is his Zen-like discussions on "being useful." Teilhard de Chardin once said, "Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous (although we have this ambition) as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value." For Swedenborg, such a focus provides the ground for future spiritual growth. As Paul Zacharias, a Swedenborgian minister, observes in his pamphlet This We Believe, "Everyone who lives up to the best he knows, whether Christian, Jew, Moslem, or Pagan, is truly a member of the church Invisible." --------------------------------------------------------------- Now if you have had the patience to get this far... the idea of service...giving of yourself...It's all there.
From: Ernest Kurtz . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2006 2:58:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII There was also an article in the *Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly* a few years ago that dissected this too widespread fallacy. Perhaps someone can give the exact citation, which I do not have at hand right now?
groups
From: Robert Stonebraker . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2006 11:32:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Joe A. asked: "Can you tell us where these films are available for local
sharing?" I believe "A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" is still sold at Dr. Bob's Home and the earlier one, "DAWN OF HOPE," which came from the same place, may be out of circulation. I would suggest you write or check out their website. Both are about 30 minutes long which makes them convenient to play at meetings. Bob S. ?????????? ----Original Message----- From: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Joe Adams Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 4:48 AM To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Reading lists for AA study groups Can you tell us where these films are available for local sharing? Joe Adams (sober_in_nc at yahoo.com) __________________________________________
(rstonebraker212 at insightbb.com) wrote: Our Big Book Step Study Group in Richmond, IN, spends the first two Tuesdays studying AA history - we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE" and sometimes "A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" from Dr. Bob's Home.
publishing From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/22/2006 5:21:00 PM
available to the general public (and especially to folks interested in AA history).
Graduates From: Glenn . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/23/2006 11:36:00 AM
about the book he got it from. Has anybody in this Group heard of this book and have any idea where I could get a copy? The only thing that I presently have is a one page "The Difference between your Sponsor and your Therapist", to help newcomes understand the differance between the complexity of the tratment industry and the simplicity of the Program of Action that has worked best for most ALCOHOLICS for over 70 years. Thanks, Glenn L. Birdsboro, PA, USA
grudgingly consented to engage in a brief conversation with Bill W., an alcoholic stranger from New York. Bill elaborated on his dramatic recovery from alcoholism--the doctor listened for five hours! Dr.Bob especially identified with Bill's battle with the physical allergy to alcohol--and his mental obsession. Hope began to return--the evidence stood before him.
fascinating business. If Bill's sharing would have been about drug addiction, or some other terrible problem, the conversation surely would have been short lived. As it were, this incident signals a founding moment of A.A. history. When we identify ourselves as simply "alcoholic" we are abiding with the spirit of our Third and Fifth Traditions. But if we add to it we are indicating that A.A. has an opinion on different outside issues--such as drugs, etc., (see Tradition 10). Besides that, we separate ourselves from our fellow alcoholics. There is no need to do this. This custom came from treatment center rap-sessions--and that's where it should have stayed. A.A. does not compete for membership with members (or potential members) of other 12-Step fellowships. Our co-founder Bill W. has written that he could see no way of making non-alcoholic addicts into A.A. members ("Problems other than Alcohol--Excerpts"). Non- alcoholics are invited to our open meetings for help and inspi rati on, but they will not become members of Alcoholics Anonymous. If you may think you may be an alcoholic, but don't really know, you are welcomed to attend all A.A. meetings. Our Third Tradition states: "The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire tostop drinking. In effort to abide by our code of singleness of purpose most A.A. members (both open and closed) request that those in attendance confine their sharing to alcohol related subjects. The mention of other problems is often necessary and, of course, not taboo; but it is easy to see that alcoholic recovery must remain our chief concern.
alcoholic; it worked! That should never change! Let! us f! orever keep this legacy available for the millions of alcoholics who will desperately need a real alcoholic to help in the years to come.
From: archie . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/23/2006 11:44:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE SERVICE MATERIAL FROM G.S.O. Conference-approved--What It Means to You The term Conference-approved describes written or audiovisual material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A. A. principles. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship.
imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read. Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.'s from all over the United States and Canada read and express opinions at every stage of production.
General
Service Conference-approved literature" All A.A. Literature is not Conference-approved Central offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces meet the needs of the local membership, they may be legitimately classified as A.A. literature. There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S. --publishers of Conference-approved literature), and central offices or intergroups--rather they complement each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such material.
Conference, such as service material, Guidelines and bulletins. AVAILABLE AT MOST A.A. GROUPS Most local A.A. groups purchase and display a representative sampling of Conference-approved pamphlets, and usually carry a supply of hardcover books. Conference-approved literature may be available at central offices and intergroups, or it may be ordered directly from G.S.O. Groups normally offer pamphlets free of charge, and the books at cost.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. To insure the continued integrity of A.A. literature, and to make sure the A.A. recovery programs will not be distorted or diluted, permission to reprint must be obtained from A.A.W.S. in writing.
permission to use the material, providing proper credit is given to insure that the copyrights of A.A. literature are protected.
World Services). Beneath it, these words should appear: Reprinted with permission of the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. The Steps and Traditions should be followed by these words: Reprinted with Permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Conference-approved literature, they mean only one thing. Such a publication represents the broadest possible consensus of A.A. thinking. It is not just one small locality's interpretation, nor the ideas of only one member.
the spectrum of opinion of our whole Fellowship. Any such A. A. material has been very carefully prepared under he close scrutiny of the G.S.O staff, of the appropriate trustees and Conference committees, and of our General Service Conference (U.S. and Canada) itself, expressing the group conscience of A. A. as a whole. The reason behind this procedure is simple. It is a way of preserving A.A.'s traditional independence. We are not affiliated with anyone else, and we do not oppose, nor do we endorse, any other ideas. We simply state (that is, publish) our own. It does not mean the Conference disapproves of any other publications. Many local A.A. central offices publish their own meeting lists. A.A. as a whole does not oppose these, any more than A. A. disapproves of the Bible or books on health or any other publications from any source that A.A.'s find helpful.
naturally. But when you see the emblem shown at the top of this article, (omitted) you can be sure the material has been through often tediously slow, sometimes tortuous screening and revisions by the necessary committees and the Conference.
meeting room can be very important. Is it clearly visible? Can newcomers pick up some A.A. literature without feeling conspicuous?
exhibited clearly separate from any other publications. If new members or visitors see religious or medical pamphlets or other material about alcoholism mixed up with A. A. literature, they can become terribly confused about A.A.
except our own. But Tradition Six becomes blurred when people see church, health, and A.A. publications all stacked together.
meeting? Pretend you are absolutely new. What impression of A. A. does the literature display give you?
APPROVAL
When the 55th General Service Conference convenes in April, several of its standing committee agendas will call for approving or developing new and revised pieces of literature. The Literature Committee will look at proposed revisions of three pamphlets, as well as one idea for a new one. The Correctional Facilities, Public Information, and Report and Charter committees also have literature items on their agendas. At the end of the week, the Conference may recommend that some projects be carried to the next stage of development, that some not be pursued any further, and that some be approved. Those that are approved by the full Conference carry the words This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature. This phrase means that a pamphlet or book reflects the widest possible spectrum of A.A. experience and that it maintains the integrity of the A.A. message. Achieving those goals requires a lengthy (two years or more), painstaking, even laborious process. It begins with a need widely expressed by the Fellowship. Sometimes, the call for a new piece of literature will be heard from many directions, as were requests for a fourth edition of the Big Book. At other times, though, the idea will start small, possibly with only one member or one group sending a request to the General Service Office. Since the ideas of a few do not necessarily reflect the needs of a majority of members, these requests rarely reach the agenda of a Conference committee right away. Instead, they follow a tried and true path through the service structure, designed to widen the group conscience with every step and ensure that by the time a proposal reaches the Conference body, a significant number of members believe it should be considered by the entire Fellowship.
her home group for discussion. If the group decides it has merit, the G.S.R. forwards the request to the district meeting for discussion, and if the district is in favor, the D.C.M. forwards it to the area assembly for even wider consideration. From there, the area delegate sends it on to the General Service Office and the G.S.O. staff forwards it to the appropriate trustees' committee. Eventually, the item may be placed on the agenda of a Conference committee. Download 13.83 Mb. Share with your friends:
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