Spiritual Roots of Recovery: Part II

As those of us in recovery know, the first 12-step program was originated by the founders of AA: Dr. Robert Smith (Dr. Bob) and Bill Wilson (Bill W.). These men certainly were not perfect, but God has used their program to transform many lives and has, more importantly, been the entrance into a relationship with Jesus Christ. These men, even though close friends and 'co-founders' of AA, had different journeys post-sobriety. Dr. Bob and the 'Midwest' group stayed conservative and the Bible was openly discussed and utilized. Bill Wilson, on the other hand, aligned himself with the group from the East (centered in New York City)...and, in my opinion, was much more liberal and seemed to deviate from many of the Biblical roots of the program.

My readings during the past 5 years have included numerous biographies (of Bill Wilson, Lois Wilson & Ebby Thacher), histories (such as, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers), letters from Bill Wilson (to his 'sponsor', Father Dowling) and books by Dick B. on the spiritual history of the program. I have 'discovered' many facts concerning AA that are astounding ... some of these are included below:

DID YOU KNOW ... ?

• Dr. Bob was always positive about his faith. If someone asked him a question about the program, his usual response was: "What does it say in the Good Book?"
• The lady that facilitated the meeting between Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson was Henrietta Seiberling, daughter-in-law of Frank A. Seiberling, founder and first president of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. She, too, was a very strong Christian and member of the Oxford Group.
• Bill Wilson declared early on in his recovery that "...the Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease...". He gave God the full credit for his deliverance.
• I read in one biography that Bill Wilson, after his 'experience with God', would take the Bible into hospitals to meet with alcoholics. He attempted to 'witness' about God's power to deliver from alcohol. He would openly speak at the Oxford Group meetings (a movement devoted to restoring 1st century Christianity), testifying to his deliverance through an encounter with God.
• Dr. Silkworth, famous for writing the 'Doctor's Opinion' in the Big Book of AA, was also a very strong Christian. He declared that the hope of the alcoholic depended on healing by Jesus Christ.
• Bill Wilson struggled for years (maybe his entire life) with specific doctrines of Christianity. He stated belief in the resurrection and return of Christ and miracles...but struggled with the divinity of Jesus. In addition, he got heavily involved in 'spiritism'. Apparently, he had significant confusion after his initial experiences in the early years of AA.
• And finally, one specific AA group wrote to C.S. Lewis (see above picture) regarding Bill Wilson's involvement in spiritism. He wrote back to the group, stating: "This is necromancy...Have nothing to do with it." They had hoped advise from a respected and influential Christian would have an impact on his practice.

You can not help but 'encounter' Christianity when studying the history of AA. I'm not saying that the organization is 'Christ-based'...but the historical roots are certainly grounded in authentic spiritual experiences, understood to be consistent with revelations in the Bible. I believe it is important for us to know the truth about the program's development and early success. Most consistently, and lead by Dr. Bob, complete surrender to the TRUE GOD was deemed the only path to sobriety. In my opinion...this real solution to transformation has not changed.

Lane