How would we feel if we were compelled to embrace the tenets of first-century Christianity before we were permitted to join AA? Many of us would probably not feel too good about it. The practice seems reminiscent of other unfortunate attempts to convert people to other religions -- the forcible conversion of Jews in Europe in the late Middle Ages, for example, or the compelling of the first Anglo settlers in Texas to become Roman Catholics before they could receive their land grants from the Mexican government.

Yet the origins of AA (and therefore all 12-Step programs) in the Oxford Group remind us of something that it is easy to forget nowadays, and that is the uncompromising spiritual foundation of the original AA program. It was simply impossible for early members of AA in Akron, Ohio to avoid the fact that they were joining a spiritual program -- indeed, many of the early members, directed by Dr. Bob, sobered up in a completely Christian environment.

It is perhaps inevitable that some present-day AAs believe that it was the Christian, as well as the spiritual, nature of the early AA program that made it so efficacious, and who strive therefore to try to return Program to its Christian roots. However, the majority of us are happy to benefit from the much broader appeal that AA subsequently made -- to a spiritual, rather than a religious, approach based on God as we understand God.

But the history of early AA brings to our attention that Program was spiritual in nature, while emphasizing the importance of daily conduct. Today AA is sometimes seen as a program that is rooted in daily conduct while ultimately taking on a spiritual tinge as we reach the distant last three Steps. No wonder the Big Book recommends that we "stress the spiritual feature freely" with new prospects. In its origins, Program does both -- it focuses on a spiritual goal, while simultaneously showing us how to live life.