Show Notes
David Belden was born into a family of Oxford Group leaders and committed activists. The Group set out “to change the world” and throughout his early years David devoted himself wholeheartedly to this challenge. But while “carrying the message” in Africa, his life took an unexpected turn that led to his questioning some of principles and practices he had once taken uncritically for granted. David returned to Oxford University to write his doctoral dissertation on the Group’s history, influence and shortcomings. He recently published a still more intimate account of his own journey toward personal and social transformation and change: The World Remakers’ Child. This series affords a rare insider’s view of the Group responsible for contributing no fewer than ten of A.A.’s Twelve Steps and yields fresh insights and challenges throughout. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson praised David’s book for its “steady candor,” “humor about himself,” and “a thirst for a less harsh, more loving, and fairer world.” In this final episode Dave’s early Oxford Group goal of “world changing” may have traveled full circle. It’s reminiscent of the poet T.S Elliott’s famous lines: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Show notes: David Belden’s book: The World Remakers’ Child Dave’s Oxford University Doctoral Thesis: https://www.academia.edu/27545723/The_Origins_and_Development_of_the_Oxford_Group_Moral_Re_Armament_ Dave’s website: https://www.davidbelden.com/ Dave doing a recent book reading at his Unitarian Universalist Church: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/QgrcJHsHpqWKvMChSdmxXjJNlDCGCJGCgHL?projector=1 This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century by Paul and Mark Engler
How 12 Step Programs Can Help Build Healthier Movements https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/10/how-12-step-programs-can-help-build-healthier-movements/
More from Father Bill W.
Like everyone else, alcoholics and addicts have a deepdesire to form meaningful and intimate relationships - and yet many of us in recovery face real difficulties in this area of our lives. Bill Wilson wrote about our having formed “twisted and broken relationships” and noted sadly, “We are people who normally would not mix.” This four-part series explores why human relationships areimportant, some of the reasons they prove so difficult for addicts, and how we might build healthier relationships going forward. Fr. Bill’s guest is Marriage and Family Therapist Tom Lavinwho brings a wealth of experience in working with 12-Steppers ready to grow in this challenging area of recovery. In this first episode, discussion centers the importance ofhealthy relationships and some of the unique challenges addicts in recovery may face. At times these hurdles may appear insurmountable but fortunately, we’re gifted with a “miracle program.” Show notes: Contact Info: Please send your questions, experiences, or comments in confidence to: [email protected] My First Forty Years Bill Wilson shares recollections of his painful childhood. Steven Hayes, PhD TED talk on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES): How to Turn Pain into Purpose Affluenza: America’s Addiction to Buying More Stuff by John De Graff Mate’s Book: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts Diagnosing and Treating Codependence by Dr. Timmen L. Cermak (used books)
Bill Wilson credits his 1934 “white light experience” in Towns Hospital as the start of his psychic change and spiritual transformation. Bill experienced nothing short of a taste of the divine. It also began Bill’s search for ways other alcoholics might experience similar altered states of consciousness – states powerful enough to jump-start their recovery journey. In the mid 1950s Wilson experimented with LSD and began a life-long friendship with two of its major proponents: Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard. In the first episode of this series, I interviewed Don Lattin, author of Distilled Spirits. His book traces the relationship of these three men over the years. In this second episode, I interview Matt D. from the 12-Step Fellowship All Addicts Anonymous (AAA). Matt’s knowledge of Bill Wilson’s LSD interest and involvement comes from his personal experience with AAA’s co-founders and draws from the group’s extensive archives. Recently, there’s been renewed interest among researchers in the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of depression as well as addiction. Our discussion expands on Wilson’s LSD history and includes warnings for those who might seek a shortcut to spiritual transformation. Show notes: · Link to All Addicts Anonymous https://alladdictsanonymous.org/ · Pharmacolatry: (Drug Worship) The Religion of the Present Age · Article, The Search for Ecstacy by Gerald Heard printed in the aa Grapevine
Bill Wilson credits his 1934 “white light experience” in Towns Hospital as the start of his psychic change and spiritual transformation. Bill experienced nothing short of a taste of the divine. It also began Bill’s search for ways other alcoholics might experience similar altered states of consciousness – states powerful enough to jump-start their recovery journey. In the mid 1950s Wilson experimented with LSD and began a life-long friendship with two of its major proponents: Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard. In the first episode of this series, I interviewed Don Lattin, author of Distilled Spirits. His book traces the relationship of these three men over the years. Recently, there’s been renewed interest among researchers in the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of depression as well as addiction. Our discussion expands on Wilson’s LSD history and includes warnings for those who might seek a shortcut to spiritual transformation. Show notes: · All Addicts Anonymous https://alladdictsanonymous.org/ · Pharmacolatry: (Drug Worship): The Religion of the Present Age · Article by Gerald Heard / The Search for Ecstacy printed in the Grapevine
Years before AA existed, Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist, sent his patient Rowland H. in search of a spiritual solution for his alcoholism. Since then, millions have followed in his footsteps. Bill Wilson corresponded with Jung thanking him for his contribution to AA and many in the fellowship, including Wilson himself, benefitted from the “depth” or “analytical” psychology practiced by Jung’s professional followers. But therein lies a problem. The Jungian form of treatment is both lengthy and costly, often far out of reach for most addicts. But can a person in 12-Step recovery experience in-depth transformation without benefit of a trained analyst - and can it aid in enriching their recovery journey? In this series, Fr. Bill explores an essay titled “The Aims and Goals of Jungian Analysis” as it appears in a book edited by Dr. Murray Stein. By substituting the word “RECOVERY” for “ANALYSIS” the outlines of a journey very similar to the one Jung pointed his patient toward comes into clearer view. At least that’s the hope for this series! In this fourth and final episode Dr. Stein joins Fr. Bill to review the goal and aims of Jungian analysis while discussing how those in 12-Step recovery might best achieve similar outcomes. Show notes: Murray Stein Website: https://www.murraystein.com/wp/
Years before AA existed, Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist, sent his patient Rowland H. in search of a spiritual solution for his alcoholism. Since then, millions of us have followed in his footsteps. Bill Wilson corresponded with Jung thanking him for his contribution to AA and many in the fellowship, including Wilson himself, benefitted from the “depth” or “analytical” psychology practiced by Jung’s professional followers. But therein lies a problem. The Jungian form of treatment is both lengthy and costly, often far out of reach for most addicts. But can “DEPTH RECOVERY,” to coin a phrase, be experienced without benefit of a trained analyst and can it aid in enriching a recovery journey? In this series, Fr. Bill explores an essay titled “The Aims and Goals of Jungian Analysis” as it appears in a book edited by Murray Stein. By substituting the word “RECOVERY” for “ANALYSIS” the outlines of a journey very similar to the one Jung pointed his patient toward comes into clearer view. At least that’s the hope for this series! In this third episode, Stein lays out the goal of analysis and lists ways for bringing it about. Fr. Bill identifies ways a person in deep 12-Step recovery might achieve very similar outcomes. NOTE: Murray Stein, the author of the essay under discussion will join Fr. Bill for the fourth and final episode in this series. Show notes: Jungian Analysis, edited by Murray Stein. The work contains 18 essays on specific aspects of Jungian analysis written by top Jungian analysts. It probably goes deeper than many might be prepared to venture but it’s well worth the stretch. (USED COPIES ARE AFFORDABLY PRICED.)