Throwback Thursday AA history post - An introduction to Father Ed Dowling, spiritual advisor to Bill W (h/t Rob K, Big Book Compendium):
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Self: The use of 'self-' is nearly always negative. This idea is very prevalent in Step Three and always refers to our problems and their source. Three of the twelve Promises in the Ninth Step mention removal of some manifestation of self. The solution to self and self-will is often Willingness , or Dependence on a Higher Power or AA. 'Ego' is also used several times in the literature, and carries the same connotation. A few positive uses of 'self-' are noted at the bottom of the page. (From our online AA literature study guide at aabookclub.org): Big Book: "These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve." The Doctor's Opinion "Understanding myself now, I fared forth in high hope. For three or four months the...