Dear AA history-minded friends, Et al, ? It is now August 2020: WWII ended this month, 75 years ago in 1945.? However, just nine years previous, the leader of the “Oxford Group,” Frank Buchman, made an unfortunate statement which was bantered out-of-context by the media, causing a change of name to “Moral Re-Armament”—also a loss of members. ???Bill Wilson started writing the Big Book only two years later, in 1938 with little mention of the Oxford Group—understandable!? Bill actually mentioned the Oxford Group only twice in the first 164 pages (p. xv and xvi).? Bill later, in a? talk, praised the Oxford Group for their inspiration when he wrote the Twelve Steps.? ? ?Up till 1921 the Oxford Group had been called “A First Century Christian Fellowship.” ?It became the “Oxford Group” in 1929, then “Moral Rearmament .” ?It is now called “Initiatives of Change,” located in a beautiful castle Caux, Switzerland.? ? ? Bob S . ? ? ? ? ? 
? ? ? ? 
-- Bob S
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Thanks Byron!?
A good one.
Jim
Here's another log for the fire. *Note: This is from a final report of the General Service Conference. There is a little more on this in the conference report quoted.
Page 7 of the 2001 FINAL REPORT
(The 51st annual GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS)
?
?
2. Living the A.A. Principles in All Our Affairs
a) What are the basic A.A. Principles?
There are 36 A.A. principles that can be reduced to "Love and Service." They include the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts. These principles carry the message of A.A. by helping members to maintain sobriety and maintain our singleness of purpose. They include honesty, open-mindedness and willingness; recovery, unity and service; love and acceptance: unselfishness, humility, patience, and sacrifice; trusting in God, cleaning house and helping others. The basic A.A. principles are spiritual ideals. Taking newcomers to different groups helps them learn to experience the A.A. principles of recovery, unity and service.
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Here's another log for the fire. *Note: This is from a final report of the General Service Conference. There is a little more on this in the conference report quoted.
Page 7 of the 2001 FINAL REPORT
(The 51st annual GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS)
?
?
2. Living the A.A. Principles in All Our Affairs
a) What are the basic A.A. Principles?
There are 36 A.A. principles that can be reduced to "Love and Service." They include the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts. These principles carry the message of A.A. by helping members to maintain sobriety and maintain our singleness of purpose. They include honesty, open-mindedness and willingness; recovery, unity and service; love and acceptance: unselfishness, humility, patience, and sacrifice; trusting in God, cleaning house and helping others. The basic A.A. principles are spiritual ideals. Taking newcomers to different groups helps them learn to experience the A.A. principles of recovery, unity and service.
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Recoveryspeakers.com has about every speaker and topic you’d care to hear. Great website and resource!
Cheers
Brian
801-403-8789
Sent while mobile. Please excuse any typos!
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Thanks to all who have responded with the great historical information. The summary seems to be that they are "ok" or "cute" and may vary and may be helpful like other customs that have sprung up but have no official standing or factual history.?
Thanks to all
Jim
The 12x12 refers directly to some principles. First and foremost, as already mentioned above, ...Twelve Steps are a group of principals...
But also check the following pages:
21-22
38
56
70
86
181
In joy
Doris Ringbloom
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
The 12x12 refers directly to some principles. First and foremost, as already mentioned above, ...Twelve Steps are a group of principals...
But also check the following pages:
21-22
38
56
70
86
181
In joy
Doris Ringbloom
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
I agree with Tommy wholeheartedly and I myself have seen some pretty "out there" versions of said list.
In early sobriety when sharing, I loved to harp on about "my list" of principles. Ha! I didn't have any principles YET are you kidding me! But just try telling THAT to a 'third year wonder" such as myself. Now, at 28, I still have a list, sure, and it has evolved a lot and I DO still think that my list is the only correct one BUT I also know that to even think it's official would make me more full of dung than an outdoor AA meeting in a horse stable. ;)
But for fun, here's my current "official" (drunk junk) list, current as of 28 years of sobriety (not so important) and One Day At A Time (critical):
STEP 1) Honesty and Surrender
STEP 2) Hope
STEP 3) Faith
STEP 4) Courage
STEP 5) Trust
STEP 6) Acceptance
STEP 7) Humility
STEP 8) Willingness
STEP 9) Love and Mercy
STEP 10) Recovery and Perseverance
STEP 11) Unity and Service
STEP 12) Integrity
And they all combine into one more principle: "Sound Judgement" which happens to be the dictionary definition of the word "Sanity". And I can explain in depth why they are what they are if anyone cares. And if not? I can continue to be right without you, it just won't be easy but I'll manage.
Thanks for reading my share. (HA! HA. ha. huh??) ;)
Best,
Thom
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Be careful what you wish for, Sam. ;)
In the meantime, here's another, this time, on Step 10.
Best,
Thom
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
These principles have been listed by A.A.s, but outside the purview of the official A.A. organization.
IOW, they are opinions and should be viewed as such, drunk junk as someone put it.
Tommy H
Danville, Ky
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
This talk was great great insight into how it works many thanks do you have any other talks on the steps or history?
Sam
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Thank you Jim, This is what I've been looking for. It always sounded foreign to me when I hear someone mention principles behind principles.
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
On Wed, Aug 19, 2020 at 03:35 PM, Jim wrote:
?
?
The Cleveland site says:?The office was recently contacted by a long-timer who pointed out that the following article provides a list of spiritual?virtues?(not principles) that originated from a plaque which was sold years ago and may originally came from a Grapevine article or other AA newsletter. It is known in the rooms of AA that the spiritual principles are the Twelve Steps. To be thorough, the 36 principles are the?,??and?.
?
There are many different spiritual virtue lists that refer to the Twelve Steps which have been printed by other AA’s over the years. Although used by many AA members, they are not Conference Approved and the origin of these lists are unknown.
Bill W. considered each step to be a spiritual principle in and of itself.?"
?
|
Thom,
?
I will be there. Thanks for the invite.
?
Yours in fellowship,
?
Glenn K
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Thom R.
Sent: 19 August 2020 22:23
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Special] [AAHistoryLovers] SPECIAL EVENT for Glenn F. Chesnut! September 12th on #zoom #announcements
?
Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of AA historian and fellow, Glenn C. (Southbend, IN).
Hosted by Jackie B., 2021 Chair of the A.A. History Symposium, and Thom B., moderator of the AAHistoryLovers Group.
DATE: Saturday, September 12, 2020
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00pm PDT (4PM-6PM EDT, 9PM-11PM BST/GMT)
ZOOM ID: 881-1483-2224
PASSWORD: 1935
|
Re: Hey all! We are speaking! (Speaker flyer thread for AAHL members)
#zoom
Recovery Speakers has on going AA history talks every Friday. This Friday is Mitch K. & his Clarence Story.
Also there is a Facebook group devoted to AA history called Big Book History associated with Recovery Speakers.
?
Best Regards,
Barry Murtaugh
773.851.2100
[Moderator Comment: Excellent!! We also have a Facebook group called "AA History Lovers" (of course) but that is wonderful information! Recovery speakers does GREAT WORK. -Thom]
On Aug 19, 2020, at 4:18 PM, Thom R. < thomr021092@...> wrote:
Post any flyers or info for good speakers here, remember, especially if YOU are talking or if it has something to do with AA history! :)
|
Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of AA historian and fellow, Glenn C. (Southbend, IN).
Hosted by Jackie B., 2021 Chair of the A.A. History Symposium, and Thom R., moderator of the AAHistoryLovers Group.
DATE: Saturday, September 12, 2020
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00pm PDT (4PM-6PM EDT, 9PM-11PM BST/GMT)
ZOOM ID: 881-1483-2224
PASSWORD: 1935
|
Re: Hey all! We are speaking! (Speaker flyer thread for AAHL members)
#zoom
Post any flyers or info for good speakers here, remember, especially if YOU are talking or if it has something to do with AA history! :)
|
Re: Hey all! We are speaking! (Speaker flyer thread for AAHL members)
#zoom
Diane D is speaking TODAY t 4PM pacific (7PM Eastern, Midnight London time). I am the chair of the meeting.
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Interesting. I did a talk last night on Zoom in Oregon and mentioned how "principles' and "steps" are interchangeable according to the Big Book. Talk is attached. Just under 12 minutes.
|
Re: What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Forward to 12 and 12 states steps are the principles John
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim
Sent: Aug 19, 2020 3:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] What is the origin of "The 'principles' behind the Steps?
Hello.
I am going to try this again. I can't find any historical information as to the genesis of the "principles" commonly studied and used in AA.
My reading of the BB and other literature leads me to think that the Steps and the Traditions ARE THE PRINCIPLES. So who "invented" the various versions of the principles. e.g.?
?
The Cleveland site says:?The office was recently contacted by a long-timer who pointed out that the following article provides a list of spiritual?virtues?(not principles) that originated from a plaque which was sold years ago and may originally came from a Grapevine article or other AA newsletter. It is known in the rooms of AA that the spiritual principles are the Twelve Steps. To be thorough, the 36 principles are the?,??and?. There are many different spiritual virtue lists that refer to the Twelve Steps which have been printed by other AA’s over the years. Although used by many AA members, they are not Conference Approved and the origin of these lists are unknown. Bill W. considered each step to be a spiritual principle in and of itself.?"
TIA
Jim??
|
Presentation about Original Manuscript
Here is a recording from a couple weeks ago featuring Ken R the guy who owns the original manuscript. ?Thought you guys might like it. ?They also do a presentation every friday. ?This friday is Mitchell K and his book about Clarence, How it worked. ?I really enjoyed the book ?. ?
-- Eugene Lane Redondo Bch Ca
|
Bob S
Brian
Thom R.
Gene