Scholarly, comprehensive, unique! A.A. was an integral part of the Oxford Group in the early 1930's, and this book contains the only study of the Oxford Group's contributions to early A.A.'s Big Book, Twelve Steps, and Fellowship. You will find here the Oxford Group's biblical roots, the origin of its ideas, details on its beliefs and practices, its influence on early AAs and their high success rate, and where its concepts can be found in today's A.A. phrases such as the "Four Absolutes," the "Five C.'s," guidance, surrender, checking, spiritual experience, spiritual awakening, conscious contact with God, restitution, amends, confession of faults, conversion, continuance, "soul surgery," inventory, prayer, meditation, "Quiet Time," "Morning Watch," fellowship, witness, and others--seemingly-unknown in A.A. and recovery circles today--come to light as the very founding principles and practices which Bill W. said he had learned from his mentor, Rev. Sam Shoemaker, an American leader of the Oxford Group, close friend, and rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in New York. These were the principles and practices Bill codified into his title Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known within A.A. As "the Big Book), published on April 10, 1939. They were a departure from those of the original Akron A.A. "Christian fellowship" of 1935 and yet clearly were also grounded in the Bible and hence continued the beginning stress on the relationship of the Bible to A.A.
