Alcoholics Anonymous History and the Bible: Endorsements

The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Schuller said in his Hour of Power Sermon this February, 2007, at Crystal Cathedral in California:

“Somebody wrote me and asked me, "Why don't you give credit to the author of the 12 Steps?" The reason I don't give credit to an author of the 12 Steps is that with all of my best research, I have been unsuccessful in finding an actual author to the 12 Steps. Someone has mentioned Bill Wilson as the author and perhaps he is; I am not sure. I have discovered there is a gentleman who is regarded as the leading historian about Alcoholics Anonymous. His name is Dick B. If you want to study the history of Alcoholics Anonymous you can go to http://www.dickb.com/. I'm quoting directly from Dick B., and he says very simply, "AA was based on the Bible. Its co-founder, Dr. Bob said AA took its basic ideas from the study of what he and others called the good book. Both Bill W. and Dr. Bob, as co founders, frequently said that the sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 - 7 contained the underlying philosophy of AA. The Oxford Group, in its developing years, espoused principles that it said were the principles of the Bible. Its founder, Dr. Frank Buckman, was said to be soaked in the Bible and its principle American writer and spokesman on the East Coast, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, Jr. was called a Bible Christian. Both of these men and their ideas impacted directly on AA fellowship, on its big book, on the 12 steps and on the very language AA uses to this day." Believe it or not, that is the closest I have been able to come to finding an author of the 12 steps. I don't think that is coincidental. I think it is prophetic that an organization which is built on anonymity would leave its foundation anonymous; so that no one could take credit for the hand of God.”

Take 12 Radio’s producer said: “The World's Foremost AA Historian alive today, Mr. Dick B hosts this important eye opening show on the truth and facts of early AA and why it succeeded.”

StepStudy,org comments: “Dick B. is the most prolific author of AA history.”

Amazon.com’s The Best Recovery Books quotes author Frank D.: "'Dick B. is probably the most knowledgeable A.A. historian.

The late seminary professor, psychotherapist, family counselor, and author, The Rev. Howard J. Clinebell, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus, School of Theology , Claremont , California ) wrote of Dick B. books: “Carefully researched volumes by the leading historian of A.A.”