Synonyms for "God" in the Big Book
Lots of misunderstanding about the words "higher power" could be cleared up for believers if they do a quick study on a good Concordance like the Poe Concordance and check out the following usages in the Big Book: "Creator," "Maker," "Father," "Spirit," "God" [over 400 times counting the capitalized pronouns and the foregoing descriptions taken from the Good Book], "Heavenly Father," and the statement that it means, of course, that we are going to talk about "God." Today, though the strange phrase "higher power" is used only twice in the basic text, unbelievers and others have converted it into "light bulb," "radiator," "something," "somebody," "it," "his," "her," "radiator," "Santa Claus," and on and on. Yet when Bill Wilson and Bill Dotson both said on page 191 that the "Lord" had cured them of their terrible disease, and when Dr. Bob said on page 181 that "Your Heavenly Father will never let you down," they were simply referring to Yahweh, the Creator, who was available to cure them. And when later, Bill wrote to Father John C. Ford, S.J., and said that he didn't much care what the Buddhists did with the Twelve Steps, he was expressing in the 1950's the openness which he had declared when he said that even the A.A. "group" could be your higher power. In the Big Book, both uses of the phrase "higher power" were in the context of "God" and no other. Stay tuned for "as you understand Him" which came from Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. For me, being "rocketed" requires the jet propulsion and power of Almighty God and not some idolatrous and lesser "god" which matter is discussed in Psalm 115. That doesn't make A.A. "Christian." It simply covers what the founders meant when they were stating "Who" had cured them, and "Who" produced the documented 75% to 93% success rates in Akron and Cleveland among the seemingly hopeless "medically incurable" real alcoholics who numbered 40 and who had gone to any lengths to abstain and rely on the Creator for the power, guidance, and healing. May this help those who believe to understand exactly what our founders believed when they made their statements.
God Bless, Dick B. dickb@dickb.com
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..as we understand Him
Hi Dick,
I noticed you were going to comment on Dr Shoemaker's inception of "as you understand him."
I was recently reading an historical account of early AA history written by Jimmy Burwell (AA #5 in NY) and he writes the following...taking credit for that very important phrase.
"...About_the middle of October 1938 the manuscript of the book was finished and the_personal stories that appear in the AA book, in its present form, were_contributed by individual members from Akron and New York. As previously_mentioned, the name of the book at this time was 100 Men and the new_corporation had finally raised, through forty-nine members in New York and_Akron, about $3,000.__We then submitted the book to Dr. Yussel, well-known critic of New York_University_ this was about the 1st of November and he was paid $300 to edit_the book. Practically nothing was done to the personal stories of the_individual members and there was less than 20% deletion from the original_manuscript. When Yussel returned the book we found our _100 Men Corporation_broke, the $3,000 gone. The only concrete assets we had besides the_manuscript were some blank copper plates to be used in printing. We also_found our name 100 Men inadequate for we had forgotten the ladies and we_already had one girl, Florence Rankin, on the ball. In one or our discussion_meetings at Clinton Street other names were brought up for consideration. _Most prominent of these were This Way Out, Exit, The End of the Road_and several others. Finally we hit on our present name. Nobody is too sure_exactly where it came from but it is my opinion that it was suggested by one_of our newer members, Joe Worden, who had at one time been considered quite a_magazine promotion genius, and who had been given credit for starting the New_Yorker magazine. Hank and Bill finally decided on the name _Alcoholics_Anonymous_ in the latter part of November 1938.__About this time we almost had a disaster in our still wobbly group but it_later turned out to be a Godsend. Bill and Hank had distributed quite a few_copies of the original manuscript to doctors, psychiatrists and ministers to_get a last minute reaction. One of these went to Dr. Howard, Chief_Psychiatrist for the State of New Jersey. He became greatly interested and_enthusiastic, but was highly critical of several things in the book, for_after reading it he told us there was entirely too much Oxfordism and that_it was too demanding. This is where the disaster nearly overtook us, for it_nearly threw Bill into a terrific mental uproar to have his baby pulled_apart by an outside screwball psychiatrist, who in our opinion knew nothing_about alcoholism. After days of wrangling between Bill, Hank, Fitz and_myself, Bill was finally convinced that all positive and must statements_should be eliminated and in their place to use the word suggest and the_expression we found we had to. Another thing changed in this last_rewriting was qualifying the word God with the phrase as we understand_Him. (This was one of my few contributions to the book.) In the final_finishing the fellowship angle was enlarged and emphasized. After many_arguments and uproars, the manuscript was finally finished, complete, in_December 1938."
What do you know about this?
Jon Giunta
Westside Mens Group-Member
Plantation, Florida
Dick B., Writer, Historian,
Dick B., Writer, Historian, Bible student, Recovered AA ( A Nationwide Recovery Conference with Dick B. Southern California, May 15 and 16, 2009Mariners Church - Community Center5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603
Hosted by Pastor Don Fugate, Senior Pastor, Grace Way Fellowship Ministries (Yuma, AZ)
Coordinated by Pastor Jim Gaffney, Counselor, Consultant, Ministry Catalyst (Newport Beach, CA)
Conference Theme: A New Way Out
For Christians in the Recovery Arena
No registration required; admission free; guest book for those attending
Hospitality, Fellowship, Literature Table, Snacks, Tapes, Historical Books & Displays
Music at the Conference by Santos of Santos Ministries
Manuscript Exhibits: “Holy Grail,” “Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers,” “Anne Smith’s Journal”
Friday, May 15, 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Pre-Conference Workshop (details to be announced). Opportunity for Presenters and “ambassadors” to share in round-table and one-on-one discussions of their programs, literature, conferences, centers, archives, forums, guidebooks, websites, radio, TV, and meetings
Theme: “Here’s what we are doing. Here are the problems we encounter. Here’s how we are dealing with them. Here’s how we can help others present recovery history, Christian roots, and helping others establish a relationship with God, recover with God’s help, and pass it on.”
Saturday, May 16, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Outline of Proceedings
Opening Remarks: Dick B., “We Christians in the Recovery Arena are not alone.”
Address by Dick B.: The Historical Success Factor and the Pressing Need for “A New Way Out.”
Brief Story/Presentation by Mike Lewandowski, Lamb of God Ministries, Florida
Christian Recovery Presenters and Leaders: 15-minute presentations
Santos Ministries: Music and what they are doing at Calvary Ranch in Lakeside, California
Recovery Fellowship Members and Activities: 15-Minute presentations
Concluding Remarks: Dick B.
Note about possible changes: There may be additional speakers and changes depending on the calendars and resources of those already booked or who would like to be booked. If those not named are not listed above, they will be presenting at the Friday workshop.
For further details, see the new website, “A New Way Out”: www.ANewWayOut.com
Dick B.: dickb@dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Published: January 2009
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Dick B., Writer, Historian,
Dick B., Writer, Historian, Bible student, Recovered AA (http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml) I have read most of the Burwell materials. May I point out that Bill discussed Burwell in his talk at the Yale Summer School Lectures of 1945. He pointed out that Burwell had gone around drunk to meetings and dencounced God. He pointed out that Burwell had seeing some of the fellows praying at the A.A. office. He pointed out that Burwell had checked into a flea bag hotel drunk, picked up the Gideon Bible, read it, and never drank again. If you read some of my historical material, you will see that Burwell's account is inaccurate--something that was pointed out to me long ago by Frank Mauser, GSO archivist. Some have appreciated Burwell for his long-term, later, sobriety and his friendship with Fitz, but I know of no place where Wilson ever acknowledged Burwell's self-inserted claim that he was the author of "God-as-we-understood Him." That there was objection to Christian materials in connection with the final manuscript is clear. That over 400 pages were tossed out is clear from Pass It On. That these pages included Christian and Bible materials was stated by Ruth Hock to A.A. historian Bill Pittman and relayed to me. That Burwell did not even get the name of the editor (Tom Uzzell) correct is evident from the foregoing account. I can't fault Burwell for his sobriety or long experience in A.A. I can say that he was a little too quick to take credit for something he had no part of, other than perhaps to be one of those who was objecting to God when he was drunk, and seeking Him when he got sober. See Dick B., New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.., http://dickb.com/newlight.shtml; and read page 191 of the Big Book. God Bless, Dick B.
Dick B., Writer, Historian,
Dick B., Writer, Historian, Bible student, Recovered AA (http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml)
I certainly know about the Jim Burwell remarks. I know about his personal story in the Big Book. And I have a copy of his history article, as well as his letter to Bill Wilson on the subject.. When I visited with Frank Mauser, the GSO archivist, I was told the Burwell article contained many errors. And it does.
I prefer to look at the facts as we know them. First, it was Rev. Sam Shoemaker who wrote about surrendering as much of yourself as you understand to as much of God as you understand. This appeared twice in his book Children of the Second Birth and often thereafter. It also appeared in the article he wrote for the Calvary Evangel about the time Bill was getting sober. It was titled The Way to Find God.
Second, Anne Smith had written in her journal and shared with Bill, Bob, and the families the Oxford Group expression: "Surrender as much of yourself as you know to as much of God as you know." My book The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous and my book Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939. document the points. So does New Light on Alcoholism.
Third, if you read the manuscripts I obtained from Stepping Stones and publicized in my book Turning Point, you will see that long before Bill met Burwell and long before the Big Book was written, Ebby specifically told Bill to surrender to God a Bill then understood God. Not surprising since Ebby had been thoroughly steeped in Oxford Group expressions by Rowland Hazard and others. These were to surrender as much of yourself as you knew or understood to as much of God as you knew or understood.
Fourth, in the Big Book, Bill repeated the expression in Bill's Story. He said that he surrendered to God as he then understood Him. He had never met Burwell, had not yet gotten sober, and was at Towns Hospital four years before the Big Book was published.
Next, if you look at Bill's Yale lecture in 1945, you will see one of the several accounts about Burwell. Bill said that Jim Burwell came to meetings drunk, stayed drunk, and denounced God at meetings. Then, as Bill told it many times and at Yale, Burwell saw the boys praying in the A.A. office. He went drunk to a sleazy hotel, picked up a Gideon Bible, read it, and never drank thereafter.
Sixth, you can find in numerous Conference Approved books which contain variations of Bill's accounts that: (1) When the phrase "God as we understood Him" was substituted in a meeting, there were four people present: Ruth Hock, Bill Wilson, Henry Parkhurst, and John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo. (2) Burwell was not present. (3) There is a letter from Ruth Hock to Bill, of which I have a copy and which has been published in my books and elsewhere, in which Ruth reminded Bill of the dispute over the word "God." She said someone there--present at that meeting--came up with the expression, "God as we understood Him." She said that no particular argument or thought was given to the change. She made no mention of Burwell; and, of course, he wasn't there to be mentioned.
Seventh, although Jim Burwell wrote Bill that he (Jim) had been responsible for the phrase, and although Burwell put it in his own story, I know of no writing or talk by Bill that confirmed or declared his belief that Burwell had authored the phrase. In fact, in the forthcoming Printer's Manuscript which was just purchased by Ken Roberts and his wife for around $900,000, you will see the change as it was made in ink.
Finally, the fact that Bill asked Sam Shoemaker to write the Twelve Steps and that Shoemaker declined--saying that they should be written by an alcoholic, namely Bill--is well documented in my New Light on Alcoholism and elsewhere. Moreover, as I have documented in my books Twelve Steps for You, By the Power of God, and Real Twelve Step History, you can find Shoemaker language throughout the Big Book and certainly in the Twelve Steps.
Hence if one were to choose to recognize Shoemaker's role or to give credence to the claim by a man who was not present when the Shoemaker language was used, I'd ask the viewer to decide for himself. But only after reading The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous, New Light on Alcoholism, and Anne Smith's Journal. These books contain records, not conjecture.
In fairness, and if you read Lois Remembers and Bill's Grapevine writings, you will bypass the myths about the source of the Twelve Steps, the Big Book language, and the deletion of God in the Second, Third, and Eleventh Steps. And you will see that Lois said "it was agreed" that the book should not be Christian because not all drunks were Christian. Pass It On makes it clear how many pages (400) were then tossed out. And Ruth Hock informed Bill Pittman that these pages contained primarily Christian and Bible materials.
The best approach is to get all the facts, cite the sources, evaluate their accuracy and completness, and then decide for yourself.
God Bless, Dick B. http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml. I welcome any courteous calls or letters regarding the foregoing. dickb@dickb.com