We Agnostics (Continue)
J: This brings us, as Charlie said, to We Agnostics. We see the beauty of this chapter, and what it really does. It helps anyone to evaluate, or gives us a place to begin to develop. Wherever we are, we can begin using this chapter to develop a spiritual life.
(p. 44, par. 1) 'In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic.'
I love this. There's two questions in here to determine if you're a alcoholic. You see the simplicity of the Big Book. In 1939 when it was written, they had two questions to determine as if you were alcoholic. Now, we got forty-four I believe. We've improved on it. (laughter)
C: You see, the fellowship changes.
J: We don't need but two questions.
C: Thank God, Ebby didn't have the forty-four questions when he walked in Bill's kitchen. He'd have confused the hell out of Bill. He'd have said, Bill, has your reputation been suffering from your drinking? He hadn't had a reputation in years.
Then he would have said, is your sex life been suffering from your drinking, and he hadn't had any of that in years either. He would have confused the hell out of Bill.
Two simple questions. Can you quit entirely when you want to quit? Do you have little control over the amount you take, after you once start drinking? If you ask yourself those two questions, you can find out very rapidly whether you're alcoholic or not. If you can't do those things, then you are probably alcoholic.
Now: (p. 44p par. 1) 'If that be the case, then you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.'
You see, Bill repeats himself over and over and over, driving home certain points.
J: Steps One and Two
