LizzieThe Four Absolutes
November 14th 2006 01:19
I was being a little lazy and a lot sick by posting only when Spirit moved. Spirit has moved me back to where I should be. I'll go back to The Prophet, but first, let me share this with you.
This is a booklet/phamphlet once published by Alcohlics Anonymous. It's little known now; may you enjoy its wealth.
The Absolutes are: Honesty, Unselfishness, Love, Purity.
"Spelled out as such, the Four Absolutes are not a formal part of our AA philosophhy of lfe. Since this is true, some may claim the Absolutes shoudl be ignored. This premise is approximately as sound as it would be to suggest that the Holy Bible should be scuttled.
"The Absolutes were borrowed from the Oxford Goup Movement back in the days when our society was in its humble beginning. In those days our founders and their early colleagues were earnestly seeking for any and all sources of help to define and formulate suggestions that might guide us in the pursuit of a useful, happy and signifigant sober life.
"Because the Absolutes are not specifically repeated in our Steps or Traditions, some of us are inclined to forget them. Yet in many old time groups where the solid spirit of our fellowship is so strongly exemplified, the Absolutes receive frequent mention. Indeed, you often find a set of old placards, carfelly preserved, which are trotteed out for prominent display each meeting night.
"There could be unanimity on the proposition that living our way life must include not only an awareness but a constant striving toward greater achievement in the qualities which the Absolutes represent. Many who have lost the precious gift of sobriety would ascribe it to carelessness in seeking these objectives. If you will revisit the Twelve Steps with care, you will find the Four Absolutes form a thread which is discermible [sic] in a sober life of quality, every step of a glorious journey"
This is a booklet/phamphlet once published by Alcohlics Anonymous. It's little known now; may you enjoy its wealth.
The Absolutes are: Honesty, Unselfishness, Love, Purity.
The Four Absolutes
Forward
"Spelled out as such, the Four Absolutes are not a formal part of our AA philosophhy of lfe. Since this is true, some may claim the Absolutes shoudl be ignored. This premise is approximately as sound as it would be to suggest that the Holy Bible should be scuttled.
"The Absolutes were borrowed from the Oxford Goup Movement back in the days when our society was in its humble beginning. In those days our founders and their early colleagues were earnestly seeking for any and all sources of help to define and formulate suggestions that might guide us in the pursuit of a useful, happy and signifigant sober life.
"Because the Absolutes are not specifically repeated in our Steps or Traditions, some of us are inclined to forget them. Yet in many old time groups where the solid spirit of our fellowship is so strongly exemplified, the Absolutes receive frequent mention. Indeed, you often find a set of old placards, carfelly preserved, which are trotteed out for prominent display each meeting night.
"There could be unanimity on the proposition that living our way life must include not only an awareness but a constant striving toward greater achievement in the qualities which the Absolutes represent. Many who have lost the precious gift of sobriety would ascribe it to carelessness in seeking these objectives. If you will revisit the Twelve Steps with care, you will find the Four Absolutes form a thread which is discermible [sic] in a sober life of quality, every step of a glorious journey"
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Comment by Anonymous
Marilyn
Comment by Anonymous
Whether someone likes them or not, they were a big item in both the Akron A.A. original Christian Fellowship Program and when the New York groups were an actual part of the Oxford Group for a time. They are widely mentioned in Rev. Shoemaker's books and in the many Oxford Group books I have quoted in my writings. See: Really Long Link http://aa-history.com. God Bless, Dick B.
PS: Actually, the Four Standards were, as Dr, Bob pointed out, the only "yardsticks" that A.A.'s used in taking an inventory. Similarly, whent he Oxford Group people were doing what amounted to a moral inventory and confession of defects, they would write down four columns with the four absolutes at the top and list those areas in which their lives had fallen short, if at all, in each of the four areas.