After failure on my part to dry up any drunks, Dr. Silkworth reminded me of Professor William James’s observation that truly transforming spiritual experiences are nearly always founded on calamity and collapse. “Stop preaching at them,” Dr. Silkworth said, “and give them the hard medical facts first. This may soften them up at depth soContinue reading “Let Go Absolutely – As Bill Sees It #242”
Category Archives: AA History
Our Companions – As Bill Sees It #45
Today, the vast majority of us welcome any new light that can be thrown on the alcoholic’s mysterious and baffling malady. We welcome new and valuable knowledge whether it issues from a test tube, from a psychiatrist’s couch, or from revealing social studies. We are glad of any kind of education that accurately informs theContinue reading “Our Companions – As Bill Sees It #45”
Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends – Grapevine Article March 1958 By Bill W
Friends on the Alcoholism Front WE ARE TOLD there are 4,500,000 alcoholics in America. Up to now AA has sobered up perhaps 250,000 of them. That’s about one in twenty, or five per cent of the total. This is a brave beginning, full of significance and hope for those who still suffer. Yet these figuresContinue reading “Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends – Grapevine Article March 1958 By Bill W”
How Much Anonymity – As Bill Sees It #43
As a rule, the average newcomer wanted his family to know immediately what he was trying to do. He also wanted to tell others who had tried to help him—his doctor, his minister, and close friends. As he gained confidence, he felt it right to explain his new way of life to his employer andContinue reading “How Much Anonymity – As Bill Sees It #43”
Combining The 3rd Step and 7th Step Prayer
It’s interesting that the 3rd Step Prayer does not have an ‘amen’ as it concludes. I have been told that perhaps the 7th step prayer includes that missing ‘amen’. So try putting these two prayers together. I’ve also taken Bill W’s lead from his slight restatement of the 3rd Step Prayer (in As Bill SeesContinue reading “Combining The 3rd Step and 7th Step Prayer”
Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23
We found that we had been indeed worshippers. What a state of mental goose flesh that used to bring on! Had we not variously worshipped people, sentiment, things, money, and ourselves? And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower? Who of us had not lovedContinue reading “Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23”
A Plan Of Action – Grapevine Article September 1980 By D.J.
. . .Only after the action was past did we truly appreciate what had happened THE WORDS may differ, but a moment like this occurs in most AA stories: “I had reached the end of my rope, I remember, I said out loud, ‘God help me!’” Such a statement stirs warmth in the hearts ofContinue reading “A Plan Of Action – Grapevine Article September 1980 By D.J.”
The Disease Concept In Early AA – Grapevine Article November 2003 By Anonymous
BEFORE HE MET DR. BOB, BILL W. had spent six months trying to sober up other alcoholics–without success. A conversation he had with Dr. Silkworth before leaving for Akron changed the way Bill carried the message to Doctor Bob and changed the destiny of millions of alcoholics to come. The part of the message thatContinue reading “The Disease Concept In Early AA – Grapevine Article November 2003 By Anonymous”
What And Who We Really Are – Grapevine Article October 1991 By John W.
I have now experienced nearly eight good years of continuously sober and active membership in the Fellowship of AA. Never during this time have I hesitated to express my heartfelt gratitude for the program and the many positive (and necessary) changes it has helped make possible in my life–a life including many years of active,Continue reading “What And Who We Really Are – Grapevine Article October 1991 By John W.”
Most Spiritual Experiences Are Gradual – Grapevine Article March 1954 By Dr. Harry Tiebout
In this article Dr. Tiebout continues his observations on “the fundamental phenomena which go on when an alcoholic responds favorably to Alcoholics Anonymous.” The article describes how the influences which most AAs recognize as spiritual “should release the positive potential which resides in the unconscious.” Dr. Harry M. Tiebout was a psychiatrist and an earlyContinue reading “Most Spiritual Experiences Are Gradual – Grapevine Article March 1954 By Dr. Harry Tiebout”