Love and Tolerance

[navysteve]

Just thought that since many of us like to cite the founding Fathers for precedent, let's see what Dr Bob said:

On Cultivating Tolerance
By Dr. Bob Smith
From the editorial column of the July 1944 AA Grapevine

During nine years in AA, I have observed that those who follow the Alcoholics Anonymous program with the greatest earnestness and zeal not only maintain sobriety but often acquire finer characteristics and attitudes as well. One of these is tolerance. Tolerance expresses itself in a variety of ways: in kindness and consideration toward the man or woman who is just beginning the march along the spiritual path; in the understanding of those who perhaps have been less fortunate in education advantages; and in sympathy toward those whose religious ideas may seem to be at great variance with our own.

I am reminded in this connection of the picture of a hub with its radiating spokes. We all start at the outer circumference and approach our destination by one of many routes. To say that one spoke is much better than all the other spokes is true only in the sense of its being best suited to you as an individual. Human nature is such that without some degree of tolerance, each one of us might be inclined to believe that we have found the best or perhaps the shortest spoke. Without some tolerance, we might tend to become a bit smug or superior - which, of course, is not helpful to the person we are trying to help and may be quite painful or obnoxious to others. No one of us wishes to do anything that might act as a deterrent to the advancement of another - and a patronizing attitude can readily slow up this process.

Tolerance furnishes, as a by-product, a greater freedom from the tendency to cling to preconceived ideas and stubbornly adhered-to opinions. In other words, it often promotes an open-mindedness that is vastly important - is, in fact, a prerequisite to the successful termination of any line of search, whether it be scientific or spiritual.

These, then, are a few of the reasons why an attempt to acquire tolerance should be made by each one of us.


I almost think this should be a reading before meetings

[jimhere]

In all fairness Steve, I honestly can't believe that either of our founders could have foreseen what we have today. I know that Bill kind of allowed for it when he wrote about The Traditions, but not on the scale that we have now.

I've said it before, at what point does tolerance become permisiveness and live and let live become apathy?

The minority voice has a privilege, a right, and even a duty to speak up when we aren't adhering to vital principles. Speak up in a spirit of love & tolerance for sure, but speak up all the same.

[navysteve]

In all fairness back at you Jim, I too have said for years a slight variation of that:

Let us not disguise apathy for acceptance. And I don't think that this article from Dr Bob promotes such a thing. But it is pretty clear what Dr Bob said:

Human nature is such that without some degree of tolerance, each one of us might be inclined to believe that we have found the best or perhaps the shortest spoke. Without some tolerance, we might tend to become a bit smug or superior - which, of course, is not helpful to the person we are trying to help and may be quite painful or obnoxious to others. No one of us wishes to do anything that might act as a deterrent to the advancement of another - and a patronizing attitude can readily slow up this process.

That is pretty clear cut to me that rigidity is not spirituality in the eyes of the author. Whether he meant it or not or would approve of AA today is not for you or I (or anyone) to determine.

The minority voice has a privilege, a right, and even a duty to speak up when we aren't adhering to vital principles. Speak up in a spirit of love & tolerance for sure, but speak up all the same.

I agree with you here Jim 100%. We have a group conscience so that all have a voice. If I sit silent when my heart is telling me to do otherwise then I am not listening to that little voice within me that every now and then is quite insightful. I also have to be ready
to accept the wisdom of the informed group.

[Rob B]

At this point in his sobriety Dr. Bob had sponsored THOUSANDS of men, I suspect that would improve anyone's level of tolerance, I personal am still in the double digits so I have a lot of room to grow. Certainly bench marks to measure my progress. Good thread.

[navysteve]

Very true Rob. Bob and Bill provided us with a pretty good road map

[Tommyh]

Nice article Steve.It would not hurt a meeting to go over it.In fact,it may make a good meeting as a topic.I might bring it up soon at a small group I visit.

[jimhere]

Originally Posted by navysteve

In all fairness back at you Jim, I too have said for years a slight variation of that:

Let us not disguise apathy for acceptance. And I don't think that this article from Dr Bob promotes such a thing. But it is pretty clear what Dr Bob said:

Human nature is such that without some degree of tolerance, each one of us might be inclined to believe that we have found the best or perhaps the shortest spoke. Without some tolerance, we might tend to become a bit smug or superior - which, of course, is not helpful to the person we are trying to help and may be quite painful or obnoxious to others. No one of us wishes to do anything that might act as a deterrent to the advancement of another - and a patronizing attitude can readily slow up this process.

That is pretty clear cut to me that rigidity is not spirituality in the eyes of the author. Whether he meant it or not or would approve of AA today is not for you or I (or anyone) to determine.



I agree with you here Jim 100%. We have a group conscience so that all have a voice. If I sit silent when my heart is telling me to do otherwise then I am not listening to that little voice within me that every now and then is quite insightful. I also have to be ready
to accept the wisdom of the informed group.

I also agree with you Steve about the group conscience. In fact I agree with you about everything here.

The only point that I might differ on is that standing on principle, while it might be construed as rigidity, is in fact spiritually sound. In fact, and I think I am preaching to the choir here, the anything goes approach is anything but spiritually sound.