Views of the Original 12 Step Manuscript

Nice find today on the Yahoo News site! It is indeed a "rare glimpse" into this historic book, "with 27 million copies of the so-called Big Book in more than 50 languages have been sold."  It is fitting to find this while writing my Step One, final post before moving on to Octobers Step Two arriving later on today. I want to highlight a few sections of the article:

"Some of the edits made it into print, especially in early chapters for fragile readers. Many others were rejected as the still-anonymous personalities behind the notes fretted over how to handle God and religion, a Higher Power "bigger than ourselves" and the influence of the Oxford Group, a religious movement embraced by Wilson and his fellow founder, Ohio physician Bob Smith, but later considered a preachy hindrance in working with problem drinkers." Quote from original Yahoo article

The editors rightly smoothed out the bumps of religious language to engage a broader audience. To me, a follower of Jesus, I acknowledge the Bible as the final authority being written from God's inspired authors at the same time, understanding not every one is on that page. It's my aim to catch a broad audience on this blog, without being afraid to speak my own faith and journey. Nor should anyone be afraid or offended about another person’s beliefs. That goes both ways. Mutual respect and understanding is what allows for true dialogue.

Much like the editors of books purge, change and influence the original manuscripts, I believe that God, Creator of All, did the same to His Book making it His Word. Simply because people don't believe there is GOD or that there are absolute truths stated through scripture, doesn't make it invalid or non-truth. Who are men to say there is no God? :)

"In the opening chapter, which tells Wilson's story, one commenter questions this sentence: "God has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish."

The criticism? "Who are we to say what God has to do?” The reference, at a Dr. Howard's suggestion, was changed to "Faith."

Some mentions of God became "God as we understood him," and the famous "We" at the beginning of the first step was added later at the suggestion of one among five or six to make notes on the manuscript, including Wilson himself.

In the seventh step, where Wilson and his collaborators indicate to their readers that they "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings," a reference to doing so "on our knees" was crossed out and never made it into print." Quote from original Yahoo article. 

I do however stand by the statement I made about smoothing out the BIG BOOK, even though it's original intent revered the Word of GOD, instruction and religion. Preachy sounding text does turn away as many as it attracts. Religion is just the term of organizations of belief. Spirituality is also just a broad term to describe everything other than physical, mental understanding. I believe that when men call out to God with honest seeking of truth they will find Him. 

Suppose God is way above all our thinking, and doesn't need defense by any man? Don't you think He only desires for men to find Him and searches for those who seek truth, as He reveals it? God never forces anyone to believe in Him; He simply calls us to find out for ourselves. 

For addicts this is key to true recovery. They must come to terms with their own failures, strength and sense of self. To find God in their own way and follow it with all their heart, soul and mind to recover and live life abundant in natural non-addictive ways.

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