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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Marine Vet Learns from History and Doesn't Reject the Lesson Apr 17, 2008
I'm a Marine Vet. When I'm ill or injured, I look to the medics and the doctor for cure, and if not cure, then the finest repair available. And I ask my Heavenly Father for help along the way, forgiveness for sins, guidance toward victory, and help in obeying His will. I found, from this book, that early A.A. was no different. There is the history you hear; and then there's the vast amount of history that has awaited discovery, reporting, and dissemination. You don't know A.A. or the Twelve Steps, I believe, until you establish a relationship with God and look to Him for your rescue. That's what the early pioneers did. That's what this book shows. And this book tells you about the real, strong believing that accompanied the lives of founders Bill and Bob when they sought it and stood on it. Then came the great compromise in the Big Book. They dumped the Bible. They dumped the Christian references. And they introduced the idea that you could not be cured, could believe in some strange higher power, and that the program was spiritual but not religious. I found that Bill Wilson then slumped into more than a decade of depression. And others had a field day with new concepts. They were Richmond Walker, Father Ralph Pfau, Ed Webster, and finally the two priests who edited Bill's belated Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and A.A. Comes of Age. Suddenly, your "higher power" could be A.A. itself--whatever that meant. And later A.A. literature was talking about believing in "Something," or "Somebody," or "nothing at all." That's all well and good. But this Marine turns to Almighty God when he comes under fire. And that's what early AAs did before others began compromising. God is the same. History has not changed. Victory and cure are still available. The key is learning it, realizing it worked, and applying it the "old school way."
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The Latest Specific Guide to Adding a History Segment to Every Recovery Program Nov 18, 2006
I've been in Maui on the production line during the closing days of this new "Training the Trainers" guide by Dick B. He devoted an immense amount of time to laying out in full the history and details of the original A.A. Program developed in Akron. Dick's new book begins with a summary of the healing records by God throughout the ages. Then he turns to explicit details that put to shame the still-prevailing idea that Akron A.A. was Oxford Group A.A. The Akron program borrowed its abstinence ideas from the Salvation Army and the Rescue Missions. It borrowed its hospitalization ideas from Dr.Bob's own understanding of withdrawal problems and Bill's beginnings at Towns Hospital in New York. It then insisted on belief in God--certainly not unique to the Oxford Group, and a surrender to Jesus Christ as Saviour--which bore no resemblance to Oxford Group dogma. Instead, it followed the lead of Dr. Bob's Christian Endeavor Society where Confession of Christ was the starting point; and it adopted the approach of salvation that was a vital part of the Salvation Army and the Rescue Missions. The remainder of the Akron program principles and practices - conversions, Bible study, prayer, Quiet Hour, reading of Christian literature, and espousing love and service were direct parts of the 3,500,000 membership practices found in the United Christian Endeavor Society of Dr.Bob's youth. The book treats the leaders, facilitators, and sponsors who want to know how to approach history with a study of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and Corinthians which were foundational in early A.A. and suggests that these key Good Book teachings be revitalized. It shows the completely different origin of the New York program from Dr. Carl Jung's conversion thesis to Bill Wilson's focus and eventual adoption of most of the 28 Oxford Group principles that did impact A.A. This fresh, carefully researched and documented new book for teachers and students alike can change your program approach, a part of your program content, and your frustration over failing success rates. It's good. It's topical. It's practical. And its approach is being used more and more by study groups and Christian/AA treatment approaches.
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