Twelve Step Groups
From the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) model, twelve step groups have
proliferated in the United States and can now be found to address
"recovery" from almost any undesired
condition or state of being. Essentially religious or spiritual
(depending upon personal interpretation) in nature, the AA 12
steps are primarily attributed to Sam Shoemaker and Bill Wilson,
a founder of AA, and serve as the foundation of a program focused
on achieving abstinence from some particular activity (drinking
alcohol in AA). Mr. Wilson and Mr. Shoemaker built upon the six
steps of the Oxford Group, a religious fellowship active in the
first half of the 20th century. Various efforts have been made
after the fact to link particular Bible references with
specific steps of their program. However, I have not been able
to find any documentation that would link associated Biblical
research and scriptural references to the original
development of any of their 12 steps. If anyone knows where such
material from the writings of Bill Wilson, Bob Smith, Sam
Shoemaker, etc., may be found please e-mail me with the
information at: rsutliff@pinn.net
.
The concept of "restoration" as
presented at this Web Site does not incorporate a twelve step
approach. Several differences are
addressed elsewhere in this web site.
Copyright &Copy: 1996 by R.W. Sutliff, All Rights Reserved