AA is a Religion

I think it fair to say that those who claim A.A. is not  a religion are probably those who do not want A.A. to be a religion. Also those who don’t realize that it doesn’t matter a whit whether A.A. is or isn’t a religion. Days, months, and many recent years have been fruitlessly devoted to arguing that A.A. is not a religion.

What A.A. literature says: Take a look first at the Third Edition of A.A.’s basic text and personal stories, which contain these statements:

“They had told of a simple religious idea and a practical program of action” (3rd ed., p. 9)

“It began to look as though religious people were right after all” (3rd ed., p. 11)

“Of necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical, psychiatric, social, and religious” (3rd  ed., p. 19)

“Not all of us join religious bodies, but most of us favor such memberships” (3rd ed., p. 28)

“Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong?” (3rd ed., p. 56)

“If we belong to a religious denomination which requires a definite morning devotion, we attend to that also” (3rd ed., p. 87)

“If not members of religious bodies, we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which emphasize the principles we have been discussing (3rd ed., p. 87)

“Be quick to see where religious people are right” (3rd ed., p. 87)

“The big A.A. book had not been written and there was no literature except various religious pamphlets” (3rd ed., p. 291)

“Dr. Bob always emphasized the religious angle very strongly, and I think it helped” (3rd ed., p. 292).

“Our more religious members call it ‘God-consciousness’.” (3rd ed., p. 570)

Read my titles: Dr. Bob and His Library, 3rd ed.; Anne Smith’s Journal, 3rd ed.; The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 2d ed.; The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible; 2nd ed.; The James Club and The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials; Real Twelve Step Fellowship History, God and Alcoholism, and The Conversion of Bill W. (http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml). There you will find hundreds of documented statements about early A.A. and the Bible, its old fashioned prayer meetings, required conversions to Jesus Christ, its Biblical references, and even the very name (“James Club”—from the Book of James in the Bible) that AAs favored as the name for their Society.

See our new website which is growing in information about Dr. Bob’s religious training as a youngster in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. There, from his family, his church, his Sunday school, his Christian Endeavor participation, the YMCA influences, the revival and conversions, and the training at St. Johnsbury with its daily chapel and required Bible study and church attendance (http://DrBob.info). Put these facts together, and it becomes apparent that the original A.A. program’s required conversion to Christ, its old fashioned prayer meetings, its emphasis on Bible study, its use of Christian literature and devotionals, and it witnessing outreach justified the members in calling it a Christian Fellowship. That’s what Dr. Bob called it. Not a sect. Not a denomination. Not a church. Not even a church building—Christian, yes; religion, yes; effective, yes. Christian today? No! Available to Christians and those of many and no beliefs? Yes.

<< Previous    [1]  2  3  4    Next >>