Bill W's original Grapevine article introducing Tradition Two:
Tradition Two
Sooner or later, every AA comes to depend upon a Power greater
than himself. He finds that the God of his understanding is
not only a source of strength, but also a source of positive
direction. Realizing that some fraction of that infinite
resource is now available, his life takes on and entirely
different complexion. He experiences a new inner security
together with such a sense of destiny and purpose as he has
never known before. As each day passes, our AA reviews his
mistakes and vicissitudes. He learns from daily experience
what his remaining character defects are and becomes ever more
willing that they be removed. In this fashion he improves his
conscious contact with God.
Every AA group follows this same cycle of development. We are
coming to realize that each group, as well as each individual,
is a special entity, not quite like any other. Though AA
groups are basically the same, each group does have its own
special atmosphere, its own peculiar state of development. We
believe that every AA group has a conscience. It is the
collective conscience of its own membership. Daily experience
informs and instructs his conscience. The group begins to
recognize its own defects of character and, one by one, these
are removed or lessened. As this process continues, the group
becomes better able to receive right direction fro its own
affairs. Trial and error produces group experience and out of
corrected experience comes custom. When a customary way of
doing things is definitely proved to be best, then that custom
forms into AA Tradition. The Greater Power is then working
through a clear group conscience.
We humbly hope and believe that our growing AA Tradition will
prove to be the will of God for us.
Many people are coming to think that Alcoholics Anonymous is,
to some extent, a new form of human society. In our discussion
of the First Tradition, it was emphasized that we have, in AA,
no coercive human authority. Because each AA, of necessity,
has a sensitive and responsive conscience, and because alcohol
will discipline him severely if he back slides, we are finding
we have little need for manmade rules or regulations. Despite
the fact that we do veer off at times on tangents, we are
becoming more able to depend absolutely on the long-term
stability of the AA group itself. With respect to its own
affairs, the collective conscience of the group will, given
time, almost surely demonstrate its perfect dependability. The
group conscience will, in the end, prove a far more infallible
guide for group affairs than the decision of any individual
member, however good or wise he may be. This is a striking and
almost unbelievable fact about Alcoholics Anonymous. Hence we
can safely dispense with those exhortations and punishments
seemingly so necessary to other societies. And we need not
depend overmuch on inspired leaders. Because our active
leadership of service can be truly rotating, we enjoy a kind
of democracy rarely possible elsewhere. In this respect, we
may be, to a large degree, unique.
Therefore we of Alcoholics Anonymous are certain that there is
but one ultimate authority, "a loving God as he may express
himself in our group conscience."
Copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., January 1948
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