Step 1 Detailed Guide: Conceding to our innermost selves that we were alcoholic.

 

A detailed guide to taking step 1 

Step summary from page 59: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable."

1. The Core Instruction

    The Text: Page 30 ("More about Alcoholism")

    The Passage: "We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed."

It is not enough to admit to a sponsor, a meeting, or a spouse that one is alcoholic; the alcoholic must concede it to their innermost self to do step 1. But how can they “fully concede” without full knowledge of what alcoholism is? How can they admit being alcoholic with only their limited understanding? Most alcoholics entering AA have only a vague idea of what alcoholism is and the Big Book authors understood this. In pages 1–43 and "The Doctor’s Opinion" they provide their description of alcoholism and its hopelessness. 

Coming to terms with the utter hopelessness of active alcoholism and realizing it applies to you is the true definition of hitting bottom in AA. Realizing there is no way out on willpower alone  is itself an admission of powerlessness. In this powerlessness is the unmanageability. Alcoholics cannot manage their drinking problem. If they could, they would not be alcoholic. They’d realize it’s a problem, handle it and go on with their lives.

 Circumstances  of the alcoholic life varies greatly from sufferer to sufferer, but the hopelessness of the illness is certain and in many cases this realization is enough to motivate an alcoholic to take direction and action on the remaining 11 steps. This is one of the reasons doing a thorough step 1 is so important. Either one has the hopeless illness or just a drinking problem. Which is it?

Alcoholism: An allergy of the body coupled with a mental obsession.

To thoroughly take Step 1, studying key passages of the Big Book is essential to determine if one has this illness. It is important to understand alcoholism first and then identify whether you have it or not. Lets now look at the Book to know more.

In this passage below the authors explicitly point out what they have spent the first 43 pages teaching the reader. Namely alcoholism. They also give the two features of the illness to yet again help the reader identify (Page 44):

"In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer."

Knowing now that the authors teach about alcoholism in the preceding pages let’s now study some key passages about alcoholism from pages 1 through 43.

"The Doctor’s Opinion" chapter contains two letters by Dr. William D. Silkworth in which he describes the physical allergy as a "phenomenon of craving." This craving develops AFTER an alcoholic starts drinking. This allergy is something he found common among all alcoholics; in fact, it defines them as alcoholic.

2. Part A: The Physical Allergy (which is the  phenomenon of craving )

    The Text: Pages xxviii–xxix ("The Doctor’s Opinion")

    Key Passages:


Page XXX

"All these [types of alcoholics he's identified], and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity. It has never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest is entire abstinence."

Page XXVIII

"We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve."

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one. They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks—drinks which they see others taking with impunity. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery."

Page 21:

But what about the real alcoholic? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink.


3. Part B: The Mental Obsession

    The Text: ("There is a Solution" and "More About Alcoholism")

(The alcoholics lack of will power to defend against the first drink:)

Page 23 ("There is a Solution")

At a certain point in the drinking of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most power­ful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail. This tragic situation has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected.]

      "The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink."

Page 30: (“More about Alcoholism") 

( more about lack of “control” or in other words - no power to choose.)

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.

Page 34: 

(In this passage they illustrate again the alcoholic's absence of will power. “Utter inability to leave it alone”) 

For those who are unable to drink moderately the question is how to stop altogether. We are assuming, of course, that the reader desires to stop. Whether such a person can quit upon a nonspiritual basis depends upon the extent to which he has already lost the power to choose whether he will drink or not. Many of us felt that we had plenty of character. There was a tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it—this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish.

Page 39: 

(Here they write that self knowledge and knowing one is alcoholic is not enough, again because alcoholics lack will power to solve their drinking problem).

But the actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge. This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize, to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has been revealed to us out of bitter experience.

Page 43:

Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power.

 

 Illustrations of the “Insanity of the first drink”  (The thinking of the alcoholic mind.)

Page 36:  (From the story of Jim)

“Suddenly the thought crossed my mind that if I were to put an ounce of whiskey in my milk it couldn’t hurt me on a full stomach. I ordered a whiskey and poured it into the milk. I vaguely sensed I was not being any too smart, but felt reassured as I was taking the whiskey on a full stomach.

He [ Jim ] had much knowledge about himself as an alcoholic. Yet all reasons for not drinking were easily pushed aside in favor of the foolish idea that he could take whiskey if only he mixed it with milk!

Page 41: (From the story of Fred )

“I went to my hotel and leisurely dressed for dinner. As I crossed the threshold of the dining room, the thought came to mind that it would be nice to have a couple of cocktails with dinner. That was all. Nothing more. I ordered a cocktail and my meal. Then I ordered another cocktail. After dinner I decided to take a walk. When I returned to the hotel it struck me a highball would be fine before going to bed, so I stepped into the bar and had one. I remember having several more that night and plenty next morning. I have a shadowy recollection of being in an airplane bound for New York, and of finding a friendly taxicab driver at the landing field instead of my wife.

 

 The insanity of both the casual and deliberate relapse:

Page 37 (More about alcoholism)

We have sometimes reflected more than Jim did upon the consequences. But there was always the curious mental phenomenon that parallel with our sound reasoning there inevitably ran some insanely trivial excuse for taking the first drink. Our sound reasoning failed to hold us in check. The insane idea won out. Next day we would ask ourselves, in all earnestness and sincerity, how it could have happened.

In some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to get drunk, feeling ourselves justified by nervousness, anger, worry, depression, jealousy, or the like. But even in this type of beginning, we are obliged to admit that our justification for a spree was insanely insufficient in the light of what always happened. We now see that when we began to drink deliberately, instead of casually, there was little serious or effective thought during the period of premeditation of what the terrific consequences might be.

Taking Step 1

Now, equipped with this understanding of the illness—first, how the physical allergy triggers the phenomenon of craving once drinking begins, and second, how the mental obsession manifests as the insanity of the first drink—readers can evaluate their own behavior. By recognizing these two facts about themselves, they can fully concede to their innermost self that they are alcoholic and, in doing so, complete Step 1. 

Carrying the message of AA. What is the AA message?

 

At times you might hear people in meetings talking about "carrying the message" of AA. But how often does anybody actually explain what the message is?

What is the message of AA? Where can one find it? Most all Big Book enthusiasts know. 

In short the message of AA is this:

Permanent abstinence from alcohol through recovery from alcoholism brought about by a spiritual awakening achieved through doing the 12 steps.

Let's have a look at some key information that establishes the AA message. 

If we look at the summary of the twelfth step seen on page 60 we see this:

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Looking more carefully at the language here we can start to understand what that message is. 

Having had a spiritual awakening as the results of these steps is what the word "this" is referring to.  

 How about that. We can now see that the message is quite simple. Do the steps to have a spiritual awakening. But why a would an alcoholic want a spiritual awakening anyhow? To really understand completely why this is important to alcoholics who want recovery the AA way we need to study the previous chapters. 

In short, the previous chapters explain this:

Alcoholics lack will power to combat their drinking problem. They are powerless to stop drinking on their own self will and discipline. Therefore powerless. 

AA says if an alcoholic can have a spiritual awakening that this awakening will give them a relationship with and access to a Higher Power. In this relationship with a Higher Power an alcoholic is given the power to permanently stop and a way to live sober. 

If an alcoholic has the spiritual awakening achieved by doing the steps they can RECOVER from alcoholism.

So again the message is quite simple:

Permanent abstinence from alcohol through recovery from alcoholism brought about by a spiritual awakening achieved through doing the 12 steps. 

 

 

The importance of AA service and it's role in recovery from alcoholism.

As a long timer AA member I just continue to follow the simple directions of the AA program to stay recovered from alcoholism. It will always be important for me to maintain by recovery through the daily practice of steps 10 and 11 along with step 12 as often as is reasonably possible. As we read in the AA Book, the practice of step 12 is important for long term recovery.

In my early days, AA service work was an entry into the selfless effort of doing step 12. Why is step 12 work so important? Simply because the people who wrote our basic text, the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" say it is. They wrote an entire chapter on working with others and state this at the beginning of the chapter.

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confi­dence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

A great way many new members can start on step 12 and work toward sponsorship is to take an AA group service commitment. Many commitments are usually available in meetings of the fellowship. One experienced AA member has been heard making this statement. "It seems about 5% of AA members do 100% of the service work.

Taking an AA service commitment, being serious about it, honoring it and understanding it's a privilege.

 

Let's take a look at some of the great benefits of AA fellowship service.

1) It is an excellent way to start in practicing the 12th step. And as the Big Book says this is ACTION that works when all other measures fail.

2) If the commitment is a secretary or chairperson position it is providing the vital service of making an AA meeting available for those still struggling. In meetings all over the world there are alcoholics looking for help. Many of them may be going to their first AA meeting. If you have made a commitment to be a chairperson it is just that - a commitment for a certain amount of time. It should be taken seriously as it is providing a VITAL service: Holding an AA meeting. It is a commitment to do service for an AA group. If one is serious about practicing the program these commitments should not be taken lightly. They should be a priority in ones life. Why? Because step 12 is vitally important to maintain our connection with God and receive the gift of relief from the insanity of the first drink. Another important consideration is that making an AA meeting available could literally save a persons life. Alcoholism is a deadly illness and making good AA meetings available could be a matter of life or death for real alcoholics looking for help.

3) AA service is a privilege. It is the privilege of taking selfless action and the opportunity "do as we think he would have us and humbly rely on him" (page 68 Big Book). The fundamental principle of spirituality the AA way is selfless action. 12th step work is nothing but selfless action and serving God and those about us. In this way we can maintain and grow our spiritual condition and continue to be given relief from alcoholism and a way to live sober.

Service complacency and the pitfalls of being lazy or irresponsible in AA service. Here are a few examples. 

It's seems, from my experience, that a party line we hear in the fellowship is absolutely true. That a large number of people who relapse let the life AA gave them get in the way of AA service and practice of the 12 step program. AA members who take service commitments and don't follow through are doing a disservice. Not only to themselves but worse yet alcoholics still struggling. 

First example could be the group treasurer who is tasked with keeping the accounting of the group but doesn't attend the business meetings regularly to make their reports and irresponsibly loses track of the contributions or is late in paying meeting hall rent and other expenses.

Another example could involve a person who has taken a chairperson position for a certain day at a certain time and every few weeks calls the group secretary or texts the group chat a couple hours before the meeting and leaves a message saying they can't do it. They inconsiderately off load the job of finding a substitute last minute onto the group or group secretary. This is nothing short of inconsiderate and typical alcoholic behavior. This is not practicing spirituality. It is quite the opposite of spiritual behavior. It's self centered. A good group would replace such a person with someone more reliable who takes AA service seriously. A group that allows this kind of casual attitude is allowing an alcoholic to be irresponsible and in essence co-depending alcoholic behavior. Of course everyone has issues and emergencies that come up but consistent tardiness, last minute cancellations or not showing up at all places a burden on the group who's sole purpose is to provide meetings in order to carry the message of AA. Again, it is possible that a particular meeting might mean the difference between life or death for an alcoholic. One can never know just how important a single AA meeting might be.

There are many other forms of skirting AA service commitments but I hope to make it obvious that if one wants recovery the AA way keeping AA a priority in ones life is vitally important. This includes being responsible when taking AA service commitments, doing service courteously and making it a priority.

 

Getting recovered from alcoholism ; the great promise of the AA Book

One of the greatest promises of the AA 12 step program in the AA book (in my humble opinion) is the ability of an alcoholic to become recovered ON the program of AA. In other words, by doing the 12 steps. Below I have extracted a couple of sections of the book which show and illustrate what true recovery from alcoholism looks like - what it's like to be a recovered alcoholic. This is based on the basic concept of AA's solution to alcoholism which brings about recovery. "Spiritual Fitness"

Chapter 7 "Working with Others"

Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to their houses; we mustn’t think or be reminded about alcohol at all.
 

Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so. We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status. His only chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a bottle of scotch and ruin every­thing! Ask any woman who has sent her husband to distant places on the theory he would escape the alcohol problem.
 

The 10th Step promises (also a good description of the recovered alcoholic).

And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have re­turned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality-safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

Anyone new to the AA fellowship and interested in the AA program might ask themselves at this point; how do I get spiritually fit? Well, there is a simple answer you might not expect. Do the 12 steps with a good sponsor who uses the AA book and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book to take you through the steps.

My humble advice for anyone looking to recover from alcoholism the AA way

For anyone looking to recover from alcoholism the AA way.

 In my humble experience it's a very good idea to read (even better to study) the AA book Alcoholics Anonymous and also go to meetings for any alcoholic looking to get recovery from the fatal illness. My advice is to stick with official AA literature. It is time tested and works. There are many authors seeking to profit from publishing their own recovery books that, in my experience, are a distortion of the true program outlined in the good old AA basic texts.

  Some meetings have many people with good intentions but alot of them don't take the time to really study the literature of the fellowship - the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" and the book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions".

  The best thing that ever happened to me is the day I stumbled upon a man who was in a meeting of AA when I was floundering in recovery. I was not drinking but not very happy and still creating some wreckage and making life a bit difficult for some people. I was still practicing some character defects - being selfish.

At the time I had no sponsor so I asked this fellow in that meeting to sponsor me. I liked him. His sharing was no nonsense and was different than the usual. He bought me a a large text AA book and told me that if I wanted his help that we were going to study it. I was confused at first. I said "hey Greg, I can see fine, I don't need a large text book. I already have an AA book. He told me. I didn't buy you this book because your sight is bad, it's because you are gonna write in the margins when we study it. So, that's what we did weekly for about 6 months. It was a huge turning point in my life; all for the better. In that time I found out something kind of embarrassing. I had been going to AA meetings for 7 years, was sober and had had four previous sponsors but really didn't know the AA program very well. My four previous sponsors had the best intentions but, they themselves missed some key things that the AA book revealed to me with help from Greg, who I now call my first "Big Book" sponsor. Now I feel I have a pretty good understanding of the program (the twelve steps) and have been much more effective at sponsorship. In fact I look back and never really sponsored anyone well at all in my first 7 years. I never did have any success at sponsorship until after studying the AA book. Knowing the program literature, namely the first 164 pages of the AA book and the step essays in the 12 and 12 book literally saved me from a possible relapse down the line. 32 years and counting and there is no better way I know how to live; the AA spiritual way of life.

The basic texts of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous

 

For anyone who has happened to find my blog here please understand this about the AA 12 step program. In my experience the below statements are true.

The AA 12 step program for recovery from alcoholism is outlined and described in the Book "Alcoholics Anonymous" and it's companion text "The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions". These books were painstakingly written to be as accurate as possible in communicating the simple and practical AA 12 step program of action. They were written to save the lives of alcoholics willing enough to do the 12 step program described in them. 

Alcoholism is a serious illness and most alcoholics left untreated die early deaths. The original authors understood this and wrote a historic text which is the first 164 pages of the AA book. They wrote it as thoroughly and as accurately as possible to describe the program they had found which gave them recovery from alcoholism. This portion of the AA book has not been changed since it's first publication in 1939. It is a piece of history and considered as such.

Therefore, it is recommended in most good AA meetings that anyone looking for a solution to their alcoholism thoroughly study this literature. Anyone with alcoholism who studies the program contained in the AA book can recover from alcoholism using the simple program contained inside if they choose to do it.

Is AA a "We Program"?

 

Is the 12 step program of AA a "We" program?

It's often heard in some AA meetings that AA is a "We" program. As an AA literature enthusiast I find that this is a misleading party line.

First it should be understood by anyone who wants to practice the AA program correctly, as designed and written in the AA book, that meetings are not the AA program. Meetings are the fellowship. The program is the 12 steps. This is plainly stated in "How it Works" read at the beginning of most every AA meeting. In "How it Works" it says "Here are the steps we took which are suggested as a program of recovery". So the 12 steps are the program. Meetings are the fellowship. Two very separate things. The AA book specifically lays out the 12 step practical program of action to give recovery from alcoholism. Nowhere in the book does it say meetings of the fellowship give recovery.

 So, with that in mind let's look at how the AA 12 step program isn't a "we program".

It is simple. The AA 12 steps have to be completed by the alcoholic themselves - nobody can do it for them. People in the AA fellowship cannot do it for them. It does not make sense to call it a "we" program for this simple fact. "We" cannot do the AA program together. For example "we" cannot do a fourth step together. Every alcoholic must individually do their own 4th step inventory. This is true for ALL the steps. They have to be done by the individual. In the 5th step we ask someone to "hear" our 4th step but it is the individual alcoholics 4th step. The other person involved usually just listens and is not doing the step. Same goes for the 9th step amends. The alcoholic who does 9th step amends must do that work themselves. Other people are involved but they receive the amends. They do not do the step.

I can only speculate about how this party line started. My opinion it is that more than likely the majority of people who frequent AA meetings do not take the time to study the AA book. They look at the steps on the wall and make assumptions and make their own conclusions about what they mean. Many of these summaries use the word "We" so people conclude it must be a "We" program.

In reality the steps put on window shades or placards in brick and mortar AA meetings are summaries of the steps. Those summaries do not contain enough information for anyone to complete the steps. Any AA Book enthusiast knows that there are specific instructions in the AA book that, when followed, can give an alcoholic recovery from alcoholism.

Secular and Agnostic AA Groups.

 

As a student of AA literature, I have observed the existence of 'Secular' and "Agnostic" groups and members in regular meetings who identify as agnostic or atheist. I believe this stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the actual AA program, which has prompted some individuals to unnecessarily separate themselves from the traditional fellowship. It seems to me these groups would find, over time that they are ineffective at helping real alcoholics recover as they have missed a fundamental concept of the 12 step program.

"While a few 'Secular AA' groups have formed to accommodate non-believers, AA literature—specifically regarding Step 2— establishes open-mindedness and willingness as the only prerequisites for recovery. By defining a 'Power greater than ourselves' as a personal and flexible conception, the original program arguably renders separate secular denominations unnecessary, provided the member approaches the text without prejudice." 

Officially AA is just AA, there is no other type or kind of AA program or fellowship. I believe organizations using the AA name like "Secular AA" may be going against AA tradition and misusing the AA name in an effort to promote what they think to be some alternative to the original AA 12 step program. These groups are fringe and fortunately not numerous.

Regarding some things I've read about members, one individual had shared that "because AA says you have to believe in God I've needed to adjust the program to suit myself." I feel bad for this man. He's somehow never got the message that AA doesn't insist any members believe in God. Only an open mindedness or willingness is suggested in the AA book chapter "We Agnostics" This chapter was specifically written to help atheists and agnostics get passed their prejudices and be willing to "try God". 

No where in the AA 12 step program outlined in both the Big Book and the 12 and 12 does it say you have to believe in God. It never says you have to. All that is required to complete step 2 is to be open minded to a spiritual awakening and experience the presence of a Higher Power by doing the rest of the steps. This spiritual experience amounts to contact with or access to a Higher Power, Power Greater, Spirit of the Universe etc, personal to the individual. Simply put, a Power Greater of ones own understanding.

It is discouraging to me that "agnostic" or "secular" groups start up when they really don't need to. All they needed to do is actually study the Big Book Chapter "We Agnostics" and notice a couple of simple directions. I believe some jump to conclusions when they see the word God, keeping their minds shut and cling to prejudice. They conclude AA encourages a conventional idea of God. On careful study AA does not attempt to describe God. It is merely a term of convenience. In AA the word God is very open ended and it is up to the individual to experience their own idea of God through practicing spirituality.

This is from my blog post extracting the specific instructions found in the program portion of the Big Book (first 164pgs)

Step 2: Information/Directions: Chapters: "There is a Solution" (from page 25 on) and "We Agnostics" 

Direction 1: Pg 46: We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.

Direction 2 Page 47: We needed to ask ourselves but one short question.“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe,that there is a Power greater than myself?’’ 

  Nowhere does it say anyone has to believe. Even a willingness to believe is enough to do step 2. If someone isn't even willing to believe then that means they are remaining close minded to the possible existence of a Power Greater. To do step 2 it's important to be open minded.

At the beginning of the "How it Works" chapter there is what most AA big book enthusiasts consider a warning.

At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

It seems most of the staunch agnostics and atheists that hang around the fellowship claiming long term sobriety have held on to their old ideas. The have not let go absolutely. They have simply not studied the AA Book and relied on themselves to comprehend it and made incorrect conclusions. 

 The AA fellowship is quite open so of course atheists and agnostics are allowed to and never discouraged from attending meetings according to AA tradition but I find it a sad fact that these people have not ever discovered the true AA 12 step program and insist on holding on to their misunderstanding. Some, at times, proudly announce themselves as atheists with long term sobriety. This is a form of disunity that, I fear, just muddies the true message of AA and can confuse people new to AA. Fortunately these fringe individuals are an exception and not the rule in in AA meetings. They are a scant few compared to the majority who except and practice the program as designed and laid out in the AA basic text books.

They appear to rely on themselves to try to understand the AA program and seem to rely on themselves to stay sober instead of surrendering to the simple program. Id be curious, since these secular or agnostic AA groups are around how much success they actually have in producing recovered alcoholics . How many actual members attend these fringe sects of AA and manage to achieve recovery from alcoholism.

The "How it Works" reading and it's meaning explained.

From time to time there is confusion about the "How it Works" reading. Usually, people new to AA do not know where it comes from. I had been attending meetings for quite a few months until somehow the topic came up and it was explained to me it is the first couple pages of Chapter 5 of the Big Book. My current home group specifically makes sure everyone knows the reading is from the AA societies text book entitled Alcoholics Anonymous or more fondly referred to as "The Big Book".

 The start of Chapter 5 first paragraph reads:

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.

( Meaning simply that working ALL the steps will almost guarantee recovery from alcoholism)

Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program.

( This is a reiteration of the fact that half measures or more plainly NOT WORKING ALL THE STEPS will not bring about recovery from alcoholism ) 

 The steps are the program. The path they are referring is nothing more or less than the 12 step program of recovery.  It is written in plain English. 

The half measures sentence in the first part of the chapter "How it Works" refers to the ENTIRE 12 step program. 

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

 The steps are then listed. -- The 12 steps are the program

Can the Big Book and other AA literature be "interpreted"

 

My opinion is that the mistake of many uninformed AA's is to think that the Big Book and Twelve and Twelve can be "interpreted". Why would Bill W. write a book with the goal of saving peoples lives from alcoholism that would need interpretation? It's not written in code. It's written in English. There are many people in the fellowship of AA who never take time to actually study the book closely. I was one of those people at 7 years a dry drunk in AA.

 

Once carefully studied one finds the literature is not meant to be interpreted. It's meant as a precise guide concerning how to apply the practical 12 step program of action in ones life to recover from alcoholism. Once someone really studies the AA book and Twelve and Twelve with a qualified and reputable sponsor (or some very famous Big Book teachers like Joe and Charlie or Bob D and Scott L) they find that in several parts of the first 164 that it states just how "precise" Bill and the first 100 alcoholics have attempted to make the text. Here are a couple of excerpts.

 

Big Book Page 28/29:

In the following chapter, there appears an explanation of alcoholism, as we understand it, then a chapter addressed to the agnostic. Many who once were in this class are now among our members. Surprisingly enough, we find such convictions no great obstacle to a spiritual experience.

Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered. These are followed by forty-three personal experiences.

 

Forward to the first edition:

We of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have re-
covered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.

 

Sometimes I get labeled a Big Book thumper with the added comment that I have some sort of strict "interpretation" of the literature and everyone can have their own interpretation. The thing is that I don't have a personal interpretation. In fact all my AA friends who are literature enthusiasts and who consider themselves students of the Big Book and Twelve all agree with what it says. I attend literature study groups and we all find together exactly what the literature states. There is very little room for interpretation. Interpretation to suit ones own personal "taste" or "twist" can actually kill real alcoholics because they may never be offered the true program as designed and outlined in the literature. We see this in a number of books written by atheists who claim they have a "special insight" into how to do the program leaving out seeking a Higher Power.

 

4th Step Resentment list third column breakdown. Categories of the human instincts / drives.

3rd column of the fourth step resentment list breakdown.

Security / Survival 
    a) material/financial security, survival instinct. (pocketbooks/money)
    b) emotional security -  feeling good about oneself.
 

Social 

a) The desire to have friends and keep them. (Personal relationships - big book) 

b) Desire to hold a position within a social group Example: A position at work. A position in an AA group. A position on a sports team. Leader or position within a political organization. Much of this instinct can be about the social prestige attached to having the position. I can now tell my friends I'm the leader or VP or manager etc..

c) Desire for social prestige/acceptance/self esteem (in a group or to individuals)

Sex
   a) socially acceptable sex relations.
   b) hidden sex relations (affairs, sex that you would want to hide from others)
 

Identify which one of the instincts are threatened by the person, institution or principle which have caused resentment. Resentments always stem from our perceived blocking of satisfaction of these instincts in some way, shape or form by a person, institution or principle. Something the "offender" had said or failed to say. Something that the offender had done or failed to do. Almost always a resentment toward a person or institution originates in them saying or not saying something that is blocking the instinct from being satisfied in the manner we want or them doing or not doing something we feel is blocking the instinct from being satisfied in the way we want. 

With principles it is that the rule, law, basic truth or standard is again blocking instincts or ambition to satisfy them. 

It is helpful to write down or make a mental note ( to be talked about in the 5th step ) of how theses instincts / desires have been threatened. This can be very helpful in determining exactly what character defects may be responsible for the resentment to be written in the inventory fourth column.

Also note - AMBITIONS TO SATISFY ANY OF THE ABOVE. Things I want to happen to satisfy these instincts in the future.

It could be that the resentment held against a person is threatening ambition to satisfy one of the instincts in the future. For example someone has said something bad about me to a person I am pursuing for a sexual or romantic relationship. Now I'm angry and resentful at this person for bad mouthing me. Why? Because my ambition to satisfy my social instinct (desire to have the relation) and my ambition to have sex has been threatened. How has it been threatened? It has to do with my thinking. I think that the person I am pursuing now thinks less of me and won't want to know me or go out with me because of what the person with whom I now hold a resentment said to them. 

4th step fear inventory unofficial 3rd column: How was I relying on self?

 We asked ourselves why we had them. (fears) Wasn't it because self reliance failed us? -Big Book

The below questions can help to identify why we have fears by looking at exactly how we may have a relied on self? Or in other words "played God"

• How did I set the ball rolling? What decisions based on self (my instincts) put me in a position or consequences to be in fear?
  
• Had I or have I not asked for help from others or God? If not why?
• Had I or Have I not discussed something with someone that I should have? 
• Was or Am I playing God thinking I know what others are thinking?
  
• Was or Am I playing God predicting the future? (many of us imagine worse case scenarios concerning our worries)
• Was I or am I playing God thinking I know what others are doing without direct evidence
  

Remember, fear lies only in our thinking of what the future may hold for us. Many alcoholics dwell on worries and fear of their well being or not getting what they want in the future. In basic terms it is that a person thinks that they will not be alright sometime in the future or not get what they THINK they need in the future. Sometimes it is fear of missing out. Missing out on satisfying our instincts (self). Missing out on the money I think I need, missing out on the social prestige or friends I think I need, missing out on the sex I think I need. Playing God and thinking we may know what the future holds. We imagine the outcome of any number of situations or future scenarios in our lives. In many cases we are outright wrong and spend a lot of time in fear and worry, convinced the future will include our worst case scenarios and we won't get what we want or be OK when inevitably we are wrong. 

Fear Prayer from the Big Book: We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.

The Promises of the 12 steps as found in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous"

Here extracted from the AA text book "Alcoholics Anonymous" are promises attached to most all the steps. The text has quite a few promises and conditions for acquiring the promises. Here listed are the more significant promises attached to a particular step.

KEY: Promises are underlined and conditions are in bold and italics.

Step 2 pg 46: As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe under-lying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. 

 Step 3 pg 63: We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn. 

 Step 4 pg 70: We have listed and analyzed our resentments. We have begun to comprehend their futility and the fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can. 

Step 5 pg 75: We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The filling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. 

Step 9 pg 83: If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. The feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. 

Step 10 pg 84: And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given to us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.”

11th Step pg 87: We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day “Thy will be done.’’ We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves.

AA 12 step program directions and supporting information from the book "Alcoholics Anonymous"

12 step directions, information and promises as found in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous". Here one can quickly locate and identify the specific directions and supporting information to do the AA 12 step program as practiced by the authors.

 It should be pointed out that the book was written by Bill W and the first 100 AA members. So, when reading the AA book always keep in mind that "We" are the people who wrote the book. They say things like  "We learned we needed" or We found we.." So in order to complete a step we do what they did.

Key: Directions are underlined.

Step 1: Information/Directions: Chapters: "Doctors Opinion", "Bills Story",  "There is a Solution" (up to pg 25) and "More about Alcoholism". The reader should study these chapters to fully understand what AA says alcoholism is and to identify if they have the same problem. Once understood the reader should then be able to make a determination if they are alcoholic or not. If the reader identifies as alcoholic they can then take the step one direction below. 

 

1st step direction: Page 30: We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.

Step 2: Information/Directions: Chapters: "There is a Solution" (from page 25 on) and "We Agnostics"

Direction 1: Pg 46: We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.

Direction 2 Page 47: We needed to ask ourselves but one short question.“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe,that there is a Power greater than myself?’’ 

(promise) As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.  

Conditions and promise: As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe under-lying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps.  

Step 3: Chapter: "How it Works" pages 60 - 63

Direction 1: Pg 60 - Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?  The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.

Directions 2 & 3: Pg 62 - This is the how and why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. 

Prayer/direction: pg 63 - Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: “God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!’’  

Condition and Promises: pg 63 - When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became con­scious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn.

Preparation and explanation of importance of step 4

Last paragraph pg 63 - Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a stren­uous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in our­selves which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.

Step 4: Chapter "How it Works" pages 64-71

Directions for the Resentment Inventory: 

Column 1: pg 64 - In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. 

Column 2: pg 64 - We asked ourselves why we were angry. 

Column 3: pages 64 - 65 In most cases it was found that our self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships (including sex) were hurt or threatened. So we were sore. We were “burned up.’’ On our grudge list we set opposite each name our injuries. Was it our self-esteem, our security, our am­bitions, our personal, or sex relations, which had been interfered with?

Unofficial Column 4: pg 67 Referring to our list again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dis­honest, self-seeking and frightened? Though a situa­tion had not been entirely our fault, we tried to disregard the other person involved entirely. Where were we to blame? The inventory was ours, not the other man’s. When we saw our faults we listed them. We placed them before us in black and white. We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight.

• 1st Resentment solution: bottom of pg 66
  

This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how? We could not wish them away any more than alcohol. 

Resentment Prayer: We asked God to help us show them the same toler­ance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, “This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.

• Fear Inventory: Information starting last paragraph on pg 67

Advice: Notice that the word “fear’’ is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and the wife. This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn’t deserve. But did not we, ourselves, set the ball rolling?

Directions page 68: 

1) We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connec­tion with them. 

2) We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn’t go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn’t fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse. 

3) Unofficial third column questions concluded from the text: How did I set the ball rolling? What character defects had me make decisions that put myself in situations to be fearful. Where was I playing God? How was I relying on myself? Where did I NOT ask for help from others? These questions come from this part of the text: But did not we, ourselves, set the ball rolling? and also Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us?

Fear Solution: Perhaps there is a better way—we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.

• Sex Inventory:

Preparation advice: Last paragraph on Pg 68 to middle of 69

Directions: Page 69 - We reviewed our own conduct over the years past. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, or inconsider­ate? Whom had we hurt? Did we unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion or bitterness? Where were we at fault, what should we have done instead? We got this all down on paper and looked at it. In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life. We subjected each relation to this test—was it selfish or not? We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them. We remem­bered always that our sex powers were God-given and therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed.  

Directions concerning creating a sex ideal for our lives: In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life. We subjected each relation to this test—was it selfish or not? 

Sex ideal Prayer: We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them. 

Sex Relations Prayer: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situa­tion, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing.

Step 5: Chapter "Into Action" pages 70-75

Directions: When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are pre­pared for a long talk. We explain to our partner what we are about to do and why we have to do it. He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence. We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past.

5th step Promises: Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we be­gin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.

Step 6: pg 76 - If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being in­dispensable. Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are ob­jectionable? Can He now take them all—every one? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.

Step 7: pg 76 - When ready, we say something like this: “My Cre­ator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.’’ We have then completed Step Seven.

Step 8 and 9: pages 76-84  

Step 8 Direction 1: We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory.  

Step 8 Direction 2: (found in the summary of the steps) - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Step 9:

Directions: All of text from the middle of page 76 to the bottom of page 83.

9th Step promises: Start on bottom of pg 83 ending in the middle of pg 84 "They will always materialize if we work for them."

Step 10: Information: middle of pages 84 to end of page 85 

Directions:
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.

Step 10 promises: And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone – even alcohol. For  by  this  time  sanity  will  have  returned.  We  will  seldom  be interested  in  liquor. If tempted,  we  recoil  from  it  as  from  a  hot flame. We  react  sanely  and normally,  and  we  will  find  that  this has  happened  automatically. We  will  see  that  our  new  attitude toward  liquor  has  been  given  us  without  any  thought  or  effort on  our  part.  It  just  comes! That  is  the  miracle  of  it.  We  are  not fighting it,   neither   are   we   avoiding   temptation. We   feel   as though we have been placed in a position of neutrality – safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are  we afraid. That  is  our  experience. That  is  how  we  react  so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.
 

Step 11: pages 85-88  click here for a full break down of the 11th morning meditation step. Full breakdown of the 11th step evening meditation here.

11th step promise: We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves.

Step 12: Directions are more or less the entire chapter titled "Working with Others" pages 89-103