Significance in the number of Steps
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Significance in the number of Steps
Now if I am entering territory of questions that really should not be asked again, I apologise......Carol, perhaps we could have a sticky on the forum of what not to ask 
Someone shared in a meeting that there was a reason why the Steps were made 12 in number because of the Biblical reference and not 6, as they were originally, because what the number 6 signifies. Is that right?
Someone shared in a meeting that there was a reason why the Steps were made 12 in number because of the Biblical reference and not 6, as they were originally, because what the number 6 signifies. Is that right?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 5,068
I do not think there is any significance. There were originally 6 steps.
AA's Original Six Steps
These were expanded upon by the time the big book was written.
AA's Original Six Steps
These were expanded upon by the time the big book was written.
Belgian Sheepdog Adictee
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
My understanding from reading the 'history of AA' in various books is that Bill W wanted to 'keep it simple' and thus the '6' original ideas posted by Dgillz were expanded and put into a smooth 'flowing' order to make more 'sense' to the sick alcoholic mind and give the alcoholic a 'defined' path to follow. I don't believe the number 6 had anything to do with it.
J M H O
Love and hugs,
J M H O
Love and hugs,
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: my room in ct.
Posts: 58,110
there was recovery long before Bill W and A.A.
1- a belief in something other then one's self
2- true honesty
3- freely giving
the problem with that, it was a little too simple for us drunks! lol
1- a belief in something other then one's self
2- true honesty
3- freely giving
the problem with that, it was a little too simple for us drunks! lol
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Darn if I know...
.Gee! I don't know why 6 is a "bad" number
666 kinda sticks in my mind as something to
do with the devil....obviously numerology is
not on my list of things of interest....
.Gee! I don't know why 6 is a "bad" number
666 kinda sticks in my mind as something to
do with the devil....obviously numerology is
not on my list of things of interest....
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 541
Originally Posted by Rusty Zipper 
there was recovery long before Bill W and A.A.
1- a belief in something other then one's self
2- true honesty
3- freely giving
the problem with that, it was a little too simple for us drunks! lol
1- a belief in something other then one's self
2- true honesty
3- freely giving
the problem with that, it was a little too simple for us drunks! lol
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by CarolD
Darn if I know...
.Gee! I don't know why 6 is a "bad" number
666 kinda sticks in my mind as something to
do with the devil....obviously numerology is
not on my list of things of interest....
.Gee! I don't know why 6 is a "bad" number
666 kinda sticks in my mind as something to
do with the devil....obviously numerology is
not on my list of things of interest....
12 represents perfect closure. That's why there were 12 apostles.
According to "Pass It On" Bill Wilson wanted to make the steps 12 to align with the number 12 (though I see something like 16 independent directions).
Also, Bill said he saw loop-holes in the Oxford Group steps that alcoholics were jumping through, so he expanded the steps to 12 to prevent them from circumventing the process. Which they do anyway using the 3rd tradition as a get-out-of-jail-free pass (but that's a whole new can-o-worms).
for the explanation.
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by Boleo
Numerology is on my list of interest. Coincidentally 6 is the Biblical number for "less than perfection" (666 is the epitome of imperfection).
12 represents perfect closure. That's why there were 12 apostles.
According to "Pass It On" Bill Wilson wanted to make the steps 12 to align with the number 12 (though I see something like 16 independent directions).
Also, Bill said he saw loop-holes in the Oxford Group steps that alcoholics were jumping through, so he expanded the steps to 12 to prevent them from circumventing the process. Which they do anyway using the 3rd tradition as a get-out-of-jail-free pass (but that's a whole new can-o-worms).
12 represents perfect closure. That's why there were 12 apostles.
According to "Pass It On" Bill Wilson wanted to make the steps 12 to align with the number 12 (though I see something like 16 independent directions).
Also, Bill said he saw loop-holes in the Oxford Group steps that alcoholics were jumping through, so he expanded the steps to 12 to prevent them from circumventing the process. Which they do anyway using the 3rd tradition as a get-out-of-jail-free pass (but that's a whole new can-o-worms).
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by keepcominback
Hi, this is from the AA Literature, "Pass It On" book.
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