Absolutely Sober: A History, Principles and Practice of the Destruction of Self-Centeredness - Paperback

by George McLauchlin (Author), Creating A. Sober World Inc (Author)

Absolutely Sober tells the story of the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous in 19th Century Evangelical Christianity. The subtitle is taken from a phrase written by AA co-founder Bill Wilson as he described the cost living a God-directed way of life in order to stay sober: Simple but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. The book recounts the historical roots of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Oxford Group of the 1920's and 30's, and Oxford Group founder, Frank Buchman's experience of the Cross during a talk he heard in a chapel at Keswick, England in 1908. The methodology of A.A. is shown to be a development of Keswick's 5-day process. The 12 traditions of AA are shown to be a rediscovery of the organizing principles of a first-century Christian church - the Church of Brotherly Love. Practical steps in the destruction of self-centeredness and helping others are contained in a third section devoted to practice.