The Twelve Steps- Revised Edition My heart aches whenever someone tries to fix something, AA and the 12-Steps, that isn't broken. If it works don't break it. In response to the postings on changing the Twelve Steps, I think about the show Jeopardy. I can hear someone saying, "I'll take the Ten Commandments revised edition for $500 Alex." Being that I post numerous articles on our web sites www.nicd.us and www.ni-cor.com concerning the amazing success rates in AA back in the old days, this issue of changing what had rates of 75%, some groups had as high as 93%, concerns me deeply. It is a fact that the God mentioned in the AA Big Book was not a pencil, .357 magnum, or the AA Group, the list goes on. The God mentioned in the Steps is a God from the Bible. I am not stating opinion here. There are many sources to verify that the pioneers read the Bible, and that not one member ever said that you can choose a God of your understanding to be a door knob, or anything else for that matter. If anyone is concerned about the watering down of AA, the fact of declining membership, and the fact that the AA of today has rates as low as 5%, then perhaps we should look at what really does need to be changed- a distancing of the way it used to be done. There are some real reasons, no God for one, why AA does not have the great track record it used to have. Another show comes to mind when I think of lost souls. On the Jerry Springer Show the guests all have one thing in common, "No God." They wouldn't be doing all that crazy behavior if God was directing the show, no pun on words. The same is true for today in recovery. People wouldn't be exhibiting the crazy behaviors and beliefs we see around the fellowship if they followed the original intentions for the program- finding God and letting Him take charge in our lives. More proof of what AA really meant can be found in the chapter to the agnostics- no vague definitions of God, the program, and the steps will be found on those pages. I hope and pray that AA gets back to what worked, and not into what some people want it to be because they have no God in their life.
For more information, please go to: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml
Sincerely,
Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC / NICD Director
For more information, please go to: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml
Sincerely,
Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC / NICD Director
posted by Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC @ 12/31/2004 01:00:00 PM
3 Comments:
At October 25, 2005 6:23 PM,
Steve said…
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At November 28, 2006 3:04 PM,
jchope said…
My Higher power's name is not God and I have been sober and happy for 21 years. I have worked the steps and i believe most of the membership who ar esuccessful have a higher power of their own understanding. I have compared the higher powers of many members and i have not found that those who are christian have any better success record than those who are not. In fact i myself was a christian in my earlier life and i find i am much happier now. You cannot speack for others. I dont think the same thing works for all and i dont try to convince others they should believe as i do whatever works is the key. There is a lot of difference between the AA of today and the AA of yesteryear. People are using other substances very few pure alcoholics anymore. Alcohol is a lot more acceptable as a way of life . I say live and let live not my way but just keep comp=ing back and do the next right thing and above all don't take a drug or a drink.
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