Is the big book really outdated?

Sober Strummer · Senior Member

Is the big book really outdated?

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

It ( the Big Book) is exactly true for me today, so I'm probably outdated.

-- Edited by Fyne Spirit on Monday 23rd of December 2013 05:14:08 PM

Sober Strummer · Senior Member

Ha!

I prefer to say we are Vintage... Classics with some road character

Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

Michael H...you haven't lost your sense of humor and perspective...I dropped that share into my brain box and they're still rolling around on the floor. Thanks for the Christmas gift. smile

Zoomtopz · MIP Old Timer

Not for me .

I went to a Big Book meeting last night . And ,

I am up to chapter 6 re reading it at home .

Mike D · MIP Old Timer

Truth is never outdated! Mike D.

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

My sponsor told me ahead of time that there would be some outdated things about men and woman and to just over look it or change it up in my mind. It was no problem. She shrugged it off and carried on... I do the same. People make a choice to make a big deal out of little things - but that's just because they aren't ready I always think. I'm not one to attend the womans meeting though either. I think a meeting is a meeting and I don't like the idea that we should be special... but I do see where they are coming from too. Some abused, some with jealous husbands...

I guess now that I think of it, maybe it's because most meetings only have a couple woman in them each that I mostly continue to go... just in case a new woman would come in and see NO woman. That always made me feel uncomfortable at first. Mostly just because at the time I thought woman couldn't be alcoholic (I know I know).

There are still a few meetings here where I can walk in and be the only woman most times. I guess the womans meeting isn't helping that is how I see it. I try to think of which place I am most useful to HP - sure I may feel more at ease at a womans meeting (I feel so at ACA which is all woman) but something about it just doesn't seem right in the big picture. Maybe just not in our city due to lack of woman.

I guess this is another topic - so I'll just leave it at: No the BB isn't outdated.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

My personal opinion is that the BB will never be outdated, just like the 'Good Book' Dr. Bob refers too won't be either ... ... ... ... but many will try to convince the masses that they are outdated ... (oh boy, I could really, really, get off on a tangent here ... better that I don't, I think ... LOL)

Sober Strummer · Senior Member

Pythonpappy wrote:
My personal opinion is that the BB will never be outdated, just like the 'Good Book' Dr. Bob refers too won't be either ... ... ... ... but many will try to convince the masses that they are outdated ... (oh boy, I could really, really, get off on a tangent here ... better that I don't, I think ... LOL)

Maybe those timeless classics are written to the hearts and souls of people. Deep down, I think we are still much the same as long long ago.

i was just reading someone paraphrasing a proverb verse on here this morning. Still just as true!

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Sober Strummer wrote:
Maybe those timeless classics are written to the hearts and souls of people. Deep down, I think we are still much the same as long long ago.
i was just reading someone paraphrasing a proverb verse on here this morning. Still just as true!

I agree 100% ... ... ... Noah was an alcoholic, so we know the problem has been around a long time ... there's just a lot more of us now-a-days ... but as you said, the messages carried in these classics are 'timeless' ... ... ...

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Are there a lot more of us? Hmmmmmm

That would be a curious topic - but probably not terribly useful to the newcomer ;) I would be curious as to what we know out there in history.

The topic at our dinner table tonight was about how beer used to be used as food - so the pyramids were built on beer - each worker was awarded 10 beers per day... children at 10 yrs old would be sent to school with a beer for nutrition. Guinness being used for minerals and essential vitamins in Ireland - all kinds of interesting stuff.

There was a time when most of the gifts I bought my Dad were about beer. Hats, shirts, or the actual stuff...

This year, I served some dark beer and red wine at the table, and thought about the years I would have done that - refused just like today - and then went up to my bedroom closet to chug an entire bottle of wine.

Probably would go on to burn some food - play some Christmas carols BADLY at the piano - and believe I was fooling everyone.

I guess the point is - there is a reason I am what I am - the genes and all that go back and are rooted very deeply in me. I was so alcoholic that my whole body started to react to the drink before I even had it to my lips. Just pouring it made me get tingly - sometimes run to the bathroom - sweaty - I can't remember what else - but I know it knew deep deep within me what it was doing.

How far does it date back? I don't know - the crushing of grapes. The solution goes way back and is and always has been the same too IMO.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Yeah, I used to have beer in my 'food group' too ... if it was that good for ya, I'd have been one healthy S.O.B. ... LOL ... well, I only had the stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ... and then for a mid-night snack ... I know, I know ... anything to 'excess' is bad for ya ... I get it!!!

Sober Strummer · Senior Member

Reacting to the alcohol before we drank it.... I would be excited, stoked to swing by the liquor store on Friday after work.

Me Too.

As a kid in Germany, we had schnapps shots with lunch. Not the high alcohol grade, like strong wine. We don't have wine at dinner here. But if I take sales people or customers to dinner, I am always buying people drinks. Ironic. I don't drink but have it available free...

On treatment history of alcoholism, I found this link.

www.ehow.com/about_5470499_history-alcohol-treatment.html

Many still credit AA as the big leap forward, when it all came together!

This other bit popped up and I love the founders said it was not designed to be institutionalized. Again AA is credited as the major breakthrough!

www.narconon-news.org/drug-facts/history-of-alcohol-treatment.html

John · Admin

I don't believe the problem of alcoholism has changed over the years, nor do i believe the solution has changed or needs to be changed. It is recorded in history of thousands of years that a spiritual experience, awakening, psychic overhaul, or deep personality change not brought about by man's own effort or will power has worked at accomplishing the seemingly impossible when all else failed to provide an alcoholic relief from the torment of their condition. When we outdate God or the spiritual element of this program, which brings about the vital internal change needed to obtain freedom from active alcoholism we would be cutting the next suffering alcoholics throat, as well as many of our own.

The Big Book is written and the 12 steps designed to help us make contact with the Power that brings this Miracle about. Why would we consider it as outdated?

John

RubyTues · MIP Old Timer

justadrunk wrote:
My sponsor told me ahead of time that there would be some outdated things about men and woman and to just over look it or change it up in my mind. It was no problem.

Yeah, this rankled me at first, but like Tasha says, I chose to look past it. It helped that my sponsor is a strong feminist and I figured if she can look past it, I can look past it.