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For almost all of A.A.'s later years, experts in just about everything but the Bible have been assuring alcoholics and addicts that there is no cure for alcoholism. And I have addressed the topic, with many many quotes from commentators, in my new book, God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century. In this article, I'll just review with you the remarks of those who know something of the Bible and something of early A.A. and who reject the idea that there is "no cure." Their names and status may surprise you. Abe Lincoln: Let's begin with this remark in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln: We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God... Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace. Too proud to pray to the God that made us! George Washington: Lincoln was not alone is such reliance. From the prayer journal of our first president George Washington comes the following: O eternal and everlasting God... Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy holy spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the ever lasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life... pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments... daily frame me more & more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ. U.S. Currency and Coins: "In God we trust" And Then There Was A.A.'s Dr. Bob: If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you... Your Heavenly Father will never let you down! Did early AAs forget what these dudes were saying? Not on their lives! What the Early Crowd Were Saying about God Bill Wilson: Bill Wilson wrote in the First Edition of his Big Book: We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator... All men of faith have courage. They trust their God (p. 81) In writing about Fitz Mayo, Bill put the following in italized capital letters: WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THERE IS NO GOD? (p. 69). Cleveland A.A. pioneer "Abby" had "challenged" Bill Wilson to tell him about A.A. and "to talk about "this cure, this group of rummies'." Abby told Bill he "wanted to know what this was that worked so many wonders." In Abby's own words: "and hanging over the mantel was a picture of Gethsemane and Bill pointed to it and said, "There it is" (Big Book, 3rd ed., pp. 216-17; Mitch K., How It Worked, pp. 138-39). This "picture of Gethsemane" was, of course, a portrayal of Jesus whose transforming power and accomplishments had worked so many signs, miracles, and wonders–as reported in the Bible (e.g. John 20:30; Mark 16:17-20; John 2:11; Acts 2:22, 43). A.A.'s Grapevine: The AAs' medicine is God and God alone. This is their discovery... It is free as air–with this provision: that the patients it cures have to nearly die before they can bring themselves to take it (Volume II: Best of the Grapevine, pp. 202-03) Liberty Magazine's Article "Alcoholics and God": Is there hope for habitual drunkards? A cure that borders on the miraculous–and it works!... [The article reported in 1939 that AAs will almost always say:] "I don't care what you call the Somebody Else. We call it God... But the patient can have enough confidence in God–once he has gone through the mystical experience of recognizing God. And upon that principle the Alcoholic Foundation rests" (p. 6). Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick's Endorsement in Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: They [AAs] agree that each man must have his own way of conceiving of God, but of God Himself they are utterly sure" (pp. 322-23). Early A.A.'s Friends among the clergy and religious: Rev. Sam Shoemaker: "You need to find God" (Shoemaker, Realizing Religion) Fr. Ed Dowling: "We know AA's Twelve Steps of man toward God" (Fitzgerald, The Soul of Sponsorship). Sr. Ignatia: "The next step [after surrender] is to humbly turn to God. Ask and you shall receive." (Darrah, Sister Ignatia) Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: "I never met anyone who did not think that the 'higher power' of A.A. was God!" (Personal interview with Dick B.)
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