Extract
from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch
under thread: “TLM in Alanon UK?”
“Thanks
…... I agree Joe’s [as in Joe and Charlie's Big Book Study] books
are really simple, that’s the problem I have with them. It’s all
there in black and white, how to take the steps and how to sponsor,
according to Joe. Done and dusted; a quick fix. I can understand
their appeal. However, much of the way we communicate is
subconscious. The subliminal insinuated messages in Joe’s writing
are disturbing to me. Anyone who hasn’t much knowledge of AA
history will probably be unaware of them. For many alcoholics
recovery is not so simple. Nor is AA history as simple and as black
and white as Joe McQ portrays. He makes little distinction between
early AA groups and Oxford Groups. Early AA groups were not Oxford
Groups. He takes the 1935-1939 pre formative AA timescale (Oxford
Group/alcoholic group) out of its context and then mixes it with the
post 1939 early AA timescale. His account of the early AA period
(post 1939) doesn’t appear to distinguish between what was the
overall developing AA policy at the time and what were the painful
mistakes of inexperienced groups who were either dictatorships or on
rule making benders.
To me,
Joe McQ portrays a half truth of early AA history which leaves a very
distorted picture of the origin of the twelve steps, of AA history
and of sponsorship. His books just give you the white, as Joe sees
it, leaving out most of the black and shades of grey to be found in
the Alcoholics Anonymous World Service books. What Joe doesn’t say
is just as telling as what he does. To explain why I have a problem
with Joe’s books will take a number of posts, so I hope you’ll
bear with me. I’ll reference the posts with literature published by
AA World Services and AA Grapevine, so if you then wish to do so,
you’ll be able to check out what I have to say for yourself. The
first post will be a few things about the Oxford Group that Joe
doesn’t tell you, the 2nd will be a few things from the early AA
period that Joe doesn’t tell you, the 3rd will be relating AA
traditions to the reason why I have a problem with his books. First
post coming up soon….. “
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
