Bill Wilson wrote: “Where did we learn about moral inventory, amends for harms done, turning our will and our lives over to the care of God? Where did we learn about prayer and meditation and all the rest? The spiritual substance of our remaining ten Steps (Steps 2 through 11) came straight from Dr. Bob’s and my own early associationwith the Oxford Groups….”
Fr. Bill’s guests are Rob and Susan Corchoran, both long-time leaders in the movement that gave birth to AA.
Susan’s dad, Alan Thornhill wrote several plays that helped carry the Oxford Group message of spiritual transformation to tens of thousands all around the world. And Rob’s father worked for the Groups amidst the labor unions of Scotland.
Together they labored for many years for racial harmony in Richmond, Virginia helping heal the wounds of slavery and discrimination through a program called Hope in the Cities.
The Oxford Group wanted to “change the world” through the program of spiritual transformation Bill Wilson used so successfully to change alcoholics. This interview will help you better understand the spiritual roots of our 12-Step programs.
Show notes: Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group· The Forgotten Factor: A play by Alan Thornhill (pdf copy)
· Rob Corcoran website and blog link: https://www.robcorcoran.org/
Toward Transformative Reparations by Rob Corcoran and Mike Wenger https://www.robcorcoran.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Toward-Transformative-Reparations-NCHE.pdf