Alcoholics Anonymous - Universal Edition
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 135
Alcoholics Anonymous - Universal Edition
I picked up a copy of Alcoholics Anonymous - Universal Edition by Archer Voxx from Amazon yesterday and started reading it. It retains the spiritual elements, as well as the theme that you need a power other than yourself, but it removes the religious tones and references to God.
There's a /slightly/ different version of the 12 Steps. I realize that it might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you (like me) struggle with the religious over-tones of the book, you might enjoy it. It helped me, maybe it'll help you.
CJ.
There's a /slightly/ different version of the 12 Steps. I realize that it might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you (like me) struggle with the religious over-tones of the book, you might enjoy it. It helped me, maybe it'll help you.
CJ.
I read another alternative AA big book a while ago that attempted a similar thing. It was well written in the sense that it was a much better job than I could do, but it took all of the guts out of the program and presented a sort of wishy washy politically correct version. It also severely edited stories like Bill and Bobs into something they never would have said, and did not experience.
And that is the problem in changing the old book. It is an attempt to rewrite history. All the big book is is a record of what the founders did to recover, the mistakes they made, and the things they found that worked. When it was released no one knew if the book would do any good, but it did. It exceeded every ones expectations. It turned out that the book had something that would interest alcoholics, depth and weight. And that grew as the ideas contained in it brought about success all over the world like never before. It has track record and street cred.
Any rewrite lacks those credentials. It may work but only time will tell. The trouble is when something doesn't work, alcoholics tend to get drunk and some even die. Personally I am in favor of trying everything you can think of, leaving AA till last. You may well find something that works along the way. But if not, the old AA seems to works where nothing else's does, and it works better, if there are no other options left. Then the God bit doesn't seem to be so much of a barrier.
And that is the problem in changing the old book. It is an attempt to rewrite history. All the big book is is a record of what the founders did to recover, the mistakes they made, and the things they found that worked. When it was released no one knew if the book would do any good, but it did. It exceeded every ones expectations. It turned out that the book had something that would interest alcoholics, depth and weight. And that grew as the ideas contained in it brought about success all over the world like never before. It has track record and street cred.
Any rewrite lacks those credentials. It may work but only time will tell. The trouble is when something doesn't work, alcoholics tend to get drunk and some even die. Personally I am in favor of trying everything you can think of, leaving AA till last. You may well find something that works along the way. But if not, the old AA seems to works where nothing else's does, and it works better, if there are no other options left. Then the God bit doesn't seem to be so much of a barrier.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
As far as God or a higher power is concerned you don't have to believe.
I believe in God but I also believe God helps those who help themselves
Turning it over to whomever or whatever is simply a way of letting go.
Some people can do this easily enough and some like myself not so.
It has little to do with being an alcoholic
However if you can learn to let things go easily enough you're less likely to get bent out of shape and pick up a drink.
I believe in God but I also believe God helps those who help themselves
Turning it over to whomever or whatever is simply a way of letting go.
Some people can do this easily enough and some like myself not so.
It has little to do with being an alcoholic
However if you can learn to let things go easily enough you're less likely to get bent out of shape and pick up a drink.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)