The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible

I'm a Bible student and belong to a Bible fellowship. I'm familiar with alcoholics, alcoholism, and A.A. from several viewpoints. And I've attended A.A. meetings. Though it is little if ever discussed in today's meetings, the Bible springs to your attention. You hear the Lord's Prayer recited at the close of most meetings. You hear Bible expressions like Thy will be done; love thy neighbor as thyself; faith without works is dead, Creator, Maker, Father, Spirit. Then you see them in A.A.'s basic text--the Big Book. If you dip more deeply, you see Dr. Bob's last major address to AAs when he spoke of the absolutely essential importance of the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 to the early program. You find out that early AAs made a mandatory decision for Christ; they confessed faults in a manner covered by James 5:16; and there is talk of God's guidance. For this reason, this book has had great recognition. A police sergeant in Miami was using it to help alcoholics; and a former judge bought 12,000 copies to be distributed widely. Christian Book Distributors twice distributed large numbers. An oldtimer in Tennessee flew Dick to Nashville to tell people about the Bible roots; and he remarked that a copy of this book should be on every pastor's desk. A Roman Catholic priest who held a Ph.D. degree said the information helped fill the lacuna that existed as to A.A. history. Alcoholics Victorious and Overcomers Outreach, Inc. regularly featured the book at conventions and in catalogues. The faith-based NET Addiction Training Institute in Florida uses the book in its agenda. This has by all accounts made The Good Book and The Big Book the most popular and widely used A.A. history book that Dick B. has written. I distribute it as widely as I can. I give it away free to interested Christians. I support Dick's efforts to let alcoholics and addicts learn the Biblical roots and successes of early A.A.

From the very beginning of his research as an active, recovered member of the A.A. fellowship, Dick had his eye on the Bible and its relationship to the fellowship he had joined. For a long time, he didn't see the relationship, nor hear about it. Then a young friend in our Bible fellowship, who was also an AA, told Dick there was information about the Bible roots in the A.A. book - DR BOB and the Good Oldtimers. Dick read it and then began his systematic, detailed, walk through the historical people and events the A.A. book had mentioned. Before he got to this title, he had examined Dr. Bob's library and found the thesis corroborated. Then he examined Anne Smith's Journal and found the same result. Then the Oxford Group and all of its books and verses that talked about the Bible. Then the real Akron story--The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. And finally it was time to dive into the Bible itself and also the Big Book which contained A.A.'s basic text. And dive he did. He left no stone unturned to detail the many different ways in which A.A.'s Bible roots could be found embedded in its Big Book, Twelve Steps, Slogans, Traditions, and Fellowship. And because of this, the book became a favorite with Christians who wanted to know just how much the Bible had to do with A.A.. It also became a favorite with AAs who were beginning to wake up to the fact that a major part of their history had never before made it to the history books. The reasons are many. And six years ago, I tackled this book and briefly reviewed it. Meanwhile, it has gone through several editions, several printings, and thousands of hands. And it is the most important starting place today for a real understanding of what A.A. was before it became diluted through the ignorance of its current leaders as to the vital Biblical history and roots. Today, this book is part of Dick's 30 published titles, which includes 25 reference books that flesh out the picture, from many standpoints. I recommend this foundational book today with just as much enthusiasm as I did when I first heard of it and read it.

Every so often I find a literary treasure that bears reading more than once. This book by Dick B. is one of those books. I dug into it more times than I can remember, as I kept getting more out of it each time I opened it. This book made me into a sponge, soaking up everything within it. Not only are the words written the truth, but I found that the words enabled me to experience a more solid foundation for my own recovered existence. Trying to recover without this book is like trying to see yourself without a mirror- it is just as important to include this as essential reading. God gave us the Bible, Dr. Bob and Bill W. gave us the Big Book, and Dick B. has put it all together so we can be empowered through both. I include this as required reading for my sponsees, as it is vital they get this information so they can achieve a happy and lasting sobriety. Sincerely, Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC / NICD Director www.nicd.us

There's a whole new rush to find out what early A.A.'s did with the Bible. I'm a Christian and a Bible student. And I'm delighted to see the trend. I've read Dick' book; and it think it meets the growing need for information that's been missing in 12 Step movements for many years now.