Spelled out as such, the Four Absolutes are not a formal part of our AA philosophy of life. Since this is true, some may claim the Absolutes should be ignored. This premise is approximately as sound as it would be to suggest that the Holy Bible should be scuttled.
The Absolutes were borrowed from the Oxford Group Movement back in the days when our society was in its humble beginning. In those days our founders and their early colleagues were earnestly seeking for any and all sources of help to define and formulate suggestions that might guide us in the pursuit of a useful, happy, and significant sober life.
Because the Absolutes are not specifically repeated in our Steps or Traditions, some of us are inclined to forget them. Yet in many old time groups where the solid spirit of our fellowship is so strongly exemplified, the Absolutes receive frequent mention. Indeed, you often find a set of old placards, carefully preserved, which are trotted out for prominent display each meeting night.
There could be unanimity on the proposition that living our way of life must include not only an awareness but a constant striving toward greater achievement in the qualities which the Absolutes represent. Many who have lost the precious gift of sobriety would ascribe it to carelessness in seeking these objectives. If you will revisit the Twelve Steps with care, you will find the Four Absolutes form a thread which is discernible in a sober life of quality, every step of the glorious journey.
Read a book by Ernest Kurtz a while ago called "The Spirituality of Imperfection" which I think explains very well why AA separated from the Oxford Group and their idea of "Absolutes". In fact the "dark secrets" of Frank Buchman (the Oxford Group founder.. later known as Moral Rearmament) provide a good example of what often befalls those with a certain spiritual smugness. To the Oxford Group, the Four Absolutes (yardsticks of sanity) were: absolute purity (predominantly to sex), absolute honesty, absolute unselfishness, and absolute love. Frank was less than absolute on a few of these. They also had The Five C's.
"The worst of madmen is a saint run mad." - Alexander Pope
Kurtz also wrote another well known book in AA circles called "Not God : A History of Alcoholics Anonymous". I'd be interested in others thoughts on this if they've read either of Kurtz's books.
