Came to Believe (Paperback)

~ AA Services AA Services (Author) "A.A. is a spiritual program and a spiritual way of life..." (more)
Key Phrases: Twelve Steps, Alcoholics Anonymous, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The spiritual adventure of A.A. as experienced by individual members. Over 75 A.A. members from all over the world describe the wide diversity of convictions implied in "God as we understood Him." Especially helpful to those who confuse "spiritual" with "religious."

About the Author

American history includes many social movements that aimed to help people stop drinking. There was Prohibition, of course. But there was also the Anti-Saloon League, the American Temperance Society, the Washingtonian Temperance Society, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and more. Only one such movement survived -- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA not only survived, it spread across the world. Today, AA lists its membership at 2,160,013, with 100,766 groups in Africa, Asia, and Europe as well as North and South America. If ever there was evidence that sobriety can be mass-produced, it is in AA. AA began with the chance meeting of two people on May 12, 1935: Bill W., an alcoholic stockbroker from New York, and Bob S., an alcoholic surgeon in Akron, Ohio. Bill got sober through a set of principles that, he felt, had saved his life (ideas that later evolved into the Twelve Steps of AA). He shared those principles with Bob, who never took another drink after that day. Dr. Bob's "dry date" of June 10, 1935 is officially counted as AA's founding. Bill and Bob began working with other alcoholics, helping them achieve sobriety one at a time. And in 1939 the group published the book Alcoholics Anonymous to explain its Twelve Step program of recovery. Last year, sales of that book passed 20 million. Perhaps the best introduction to AA principles is the "preamble" traditionally read at the beginning of a group meeting: Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. By focusing on that purpose, AA avoids the mistakes of temperance groups that took on a variety of political causes, splintered into factions, and died. "Our focus has prevented us from straying into areas that we don't have experience in," says a member who works in AA's General Service Office. "What we are is alcoholics helping other alcoholics. This has helped us maintain our unity." Elaine McDowell, PhD, chairperson of AA's General Service Board, agrees "the Fellowship's main reservoir of strength is its singleness of purpose. For 66 years the hand of AA has been there for the alcoholic. It works!" AA members engage in a set of activities suggested by the Twelve Steps, such as: **Telling the truth -- that they are addicted and cannot stop drinking on their own. **Admitting and releasing resentments and fears. **Making amends to people they've harmed. **Engaging in prayer and meditation. **Sharing AA principles with others who want to stop drinking. AA members describe their program as spiritual not religious. No creed or ritual is required, and from the beginning AA has welcomed atheists and agnostics. At the same, members seek daily guidance from a Higher Power. That term is defined individually. For some members, it is the God of a church. Other members find their Higher Power in a friend, in nature, in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, in their AA group or any other source of outside help.

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: AA World Services, Inc. (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916856054
• ISBN-13: 978-0916856052
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,699 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Recovery > Twelve-Step Programs
  #49 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Recovery > Alcoholism
  #67 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Mysticism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keep coming back -- to "Came To Believe", November 30, 1999

By	David Hisbrook (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

I dip into this AA World Services publication daily. I find it best to read one story at a sitting and reflect on the comments and experience of the recovering person -- most of the short reflections are peoples' spiritual experiences in recovery and they range from the "bolt of lightening" to the slow emergence of everyday spirituality. Keep it with your morning or evening meditation book(s) and dip into it. You'll "keep coming back."

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars essential thought on "the God thing", November 2, 2006

By	notaprofessional "notaprofessional" (san francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I love this book. I'm a twelve-stepper who came to the program from a Christian fundamantalist childhood by way of a period recovering from that.

One thing I came to believe from reading this book was that a higher power is not comprehensible by me or anyone else living or dead. Many traditions have been established that attempt to essentialize something greater than the individual in ways that suit their own needs.

I'm fortnuate enough to be very well educated. I'm not into fairy tales. I do, however, experience many things about life that I cannot explain. This book helped me to understand that whatever shorthand various humans have assigned to the phenomena of life and their experiences is just that. Some power greater than myself, however, is a simple concept.

(I'm a literary sort and rate this book within the context of recovery literature and books that have made an impact on me. The prose is not where it's at with this one.)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oldie but..., April 24, 2008

By	S. S. Prince "purple person" (Adirondack Mtns, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Surprised I couldn't find a copy through local AA, there are some remarks on spirituality I wanted to save from it. The search for meaning, & acceptance of life on life's terms, never ends.
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Published Year: 1973