(1) If you're an alcoholic, AA is the only way to get well
'Upon therapy for the alcoholic, we surely have no monopoly' (Alcoholics Anonymous, foreword to the second edition)
(2) If you're in AA, the method outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous is the only way to work the AA programme
'We have no monopoly on God; we merely have an approach that worked with us.' (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 95)
'The day before I was due to go back to Chicago—it was Dr. Bob’s afternoon off—he had me to the office and we spent three or four hours formally going through the Six-Step program as it was at that time. The six steps were:
1. Complete deflation.
2. Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power.
3. Moral inventory.
4. Confession.
5. Restitution.
6. Continued work with other alcoholics.
Dr. Bob led me through all of these steps. At the moral inventory, he brought up several of my bad personality traits or character defects, such as selfishness, conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance, ill-temper, sarcasm, and resentments. We went over these at great length, and then he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character removed. When I said yes, we both knelt at his desk and prayed, each of us asking to have these defects taken away.' (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 263)
You will note that this does not accord with the instructions in the earlier chapters.
(3) There is only one way of following the method outlined in the basic text section of Alcoholics Anonymous
If you travel around AA and visit 'Big Book' groups all over the world, you will discover innumerable differences in how people follow the method outlined in the basic text section. In all cases I have encountered, everyone who diligently follows the local variant seems to stay sober and live well.
Any attempt to stipulate the 'one true path' is nonsensical and tiresome.
'Upon therapy for the alcoholic, we surely have no monopoly' (Alcoholics Anonymous, foreword to the second edition)
(2) If you're in AA, the method outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous is the only way to work the AA programme
'We have no monopoly on God; we merely have an approach that worked with us.' (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 95)
'The day before I was due to go back to Chicago—it was Dr. Bob’s afternoon off—he had me to the office and we spent three or four hours formally going through the Six-Step program as it was at that time. The six steps were:
1. Complete deflation.
2. Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power.
3. Moral inventory.
4. Confession.
5. Restitution.
6. Continued work with other alcoholics.
Dr. Bob led me through all of these steps. At the moral inventory, he brought up several of my bad personality traits or character defects, such as selfishness, conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance, ill-temper, sarcasm, and resentments. We went over these at great length, and then he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character removed. When I said yes, we both knelt at his desk and prayed, each of us asking to have these defects taken away.' (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 263)
You will note that this does not accord with the instructions in the earlier chapters.
(3) There is only one way of following the method outlined in the basic text section of Alcoholics Anonymous
If you travel around AA and visit 'Big Book' groups all over the world, you will discover innumerable differences in how people follow the method outlined in the basic text section. In all cases I have encountered, everyone who diligently follows the local variant seems to stay sober and live well.
Any attempt to stipulate the 'one true path' is nonsensical and tiresome.