Quote:
Had this power originated in him? Obviously it had not. There had been no more power in him than there was in me at that minute; and this was none at all.
That floored me. It began to lok as though religious people were right after all. Here was something at work in a human heart which had done the impossible. My ideas about miracles were drastically revised right then. Never mind the musty past; here sat a miracle directly across the kitchen table. He shouted great tidings.
I saw that my friend was much more than inwardly reorganized.
(Alcoholics Anonymous 11:14-23)
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The seemingly hopelessness of alcoholism has been recognized for thousands of years. Prior to the advent of Alcoholics Anonymous most of those afflicted with alcoholism lost their minds or dies. For over 60 years, millions of alcoholics have found relief through the application of the spiritual principles described in the book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This vast amount of experience is one very good reason for us to stop aruguing and explore for ourselves this new way of life.
What is required to overcome alcoholism is more than just a moderation of outward behaviors, but a total reorganization of the character of the alcoholic. Doctor Silkworth called it an entire psychic change (xxvii:2). Doctor Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous call it a spiritual experience (25:8-10, 27:9-12, 60:1, Appendix II).