Father Bill W.

In this episode Fr. Bill and his guest Dr. Ian McCabe explore Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous. Discussion centers on the physical, mental, and spiritual dynamics at play in addiction. Show Notes: Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous by Ian McCabe Dr. Ian McCabe, contact info: ian@pips.ie Ego and Archetype by Edward Edinger Eric Erickson’s Eight Stages of Development C.J. Jung’s Answer to Job, free pdf. version

In this episode Fr. Bill’s guest Dr. Ian McCabe explores Bill Wilson’s spiritual experience in Towns Hospital as well as Bill’s prior spiritual encounters that Bill often referred to as an experience of “the Presence.” The discussion sheds clarity on the goal of recovery which is not the elimination of EGO but bringing the EGO into RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the GREATER SELF. Show Notes: Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous by Ian McCabe Bill W: My First 40 Years “When (Roman Emperor) Marcus Aurelius gazed upon a bottle of the exquisite Falernian wine, therefore, he would remind himself that it was merely fermented grape juice, and that the fine meat dishes set before him were just the corpses of fish, birds, and pigs…”  (Meditations, 6.13).

Father Bill and Jungian analyst Dr. Ian McCabe continue a series of interviews exploring the aims and overlaps of the 12-Step recovery journey with Jung’s goal of individuation. Dr. McCabe hails from Dublin, Ireland holding several advanced degrees in psychology and addiction. He is the author of the book Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous that will be used to guide the discussions. In this episode Dr. McCabe explains the basic building blocks of consciousness followed by an in-depth discussion of the elements needing to undergo transformation in the soul in order to find recovery. Dr. McCabe and Fr. Bill explore Bill Wilson’s childhood traumas. Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous by Ian McCabe The Phenomenon of Man by French Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin To Have or to Be by Erich Fromm Recent NY Times article on EMDR

A Jungian Guide to the 12-Step Journey: Father Bill and Jungian analyst Dr. Ian McCabe begin a series of interviews exploring the aims and overlaps of the 12-Step recovery journey with Jung’s goal of individuation. Dr. McCabe hails from Dublin, Ireland holding several advanced degrees in psychology, law, and addiction. He is the author of the book Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous that will be used to guide the discussions. In this episode Dr. McCabe shares his story and tells what he hopes his book might help us achieve. Additionally, the episode sets the background for linking Jung with AA. Show Notes: Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous by Ian McCabe Bill Wilson’s Biography: My First Forty Years (Sadly the book transcribed from interviews covers only the early part of Bill’s story.) Margarita Von Lüttichau: Intermediary between Jung and Bill Wilson Robert A Johnson books mentioned: Transformation: a study of three levels of consciousness He: Johnson’s description of the Hero’s Journey Inner Gold: Johnson’s description of human projection Erich Neumann – one of Jung’s most gifted students.

Father Bill and Matt D. discuss the void religion fills in 12-Step programs, exploring spiritual practices absent in AA. They touch on Tom Powers' struggles with alcoholism and religion, meditation in recovery, and universal spiritual principles for personal growth.

Father Bill explores the place of religion within 12-Step recovery. In this episode he interviews Major David Sams, Administrator of the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center in Washington, D.C. Building on his years in recovery, David is a strong proponent of AA. The episode focuses on the Salvation Army’s long history of helping alcoholics and addicts from the mid-1800’s to the present day. You’ll learn about its founder General William Booth and how the Army integrates the 12-Steps into its 6-month residential centers. With a host of treatment centers charging thousands of dollars for short-term treatment, it’s good to know there’s a place that charges nothing and is the largest provider of services in the U.S. Think you’ll enjoy this! Show Notes: ·William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army / Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Booth Excellent YouTube video on the history of the Salvation Army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M8_7X_d4Zk Brief article on the new Methodist Connexion Twice Born Men by Harold Bigby / Popular in the Oxford Group In Darkest England and The Way Out / Booth’s classic assessment of the problem and solution William James quotes S.H. Hadley in “Varieties of Religious Experiences”

Father Bill continues a deep dive exploring the place of religion within 12-Step recovery. Worldwide, and within 12-Step Fellowships, membership in religious bodies continues a steady decline, while the hunger for spiritual connection seems to grow steadily. This episode continues to ask what religions may have to contribute to our spiritual growth and why it’s often so difficult to join the worlds of recovery and religion. Fr. Bill asks if most addicts may just be misplaced mystics! The McGinn book referenced is The Essential Writings of  Christian Mysticism by Bernard McGinn: Here’s also a good YouTube lecture by McGinn An excellent discussion by three mystics from different faith traditions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G3Oau9Q4uQ Books by John Dominic Crossan Books by Marcus Borg Books by Elaine Pagels Phyllis Tickle: Short video on her book The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why Carl Jung: Short video by Edward Edinger with his views on the importance of a spiritual life.

Father Bill shares an important writing by Rev. Sam Shoemaker. He is the Oxford Group leader Bill Wilson credits with teaching him no fewer than ten of the twelve Steps. Titled, “What the Church Has to Learn from Alcoholics Anonymous,” Fr. Bill reads the complete article. It’s also available in written form through the Step Study. Show Notes:  Link to Sam Shoemaker’s “What the Church Has to Learn from Alcoholics Anonymous”

Father Bill concludes his series of interviews with Stephen R. Haynes, professor of religious studies at Rhodes College and adjunct professor of recovery at Fuller Theological Seminary. Stephen’s new book Why Can’t the Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? explores the similarities and differences between communities of faith and communities of recovery. Stephen has traveled both worlds and shares insights and experiences gained along the way. This episode explores how churches and 12 Step fellowships approach sexual addictions or as Dr. Haynes terms it, “the pornification of society.” Show Notes: Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? by Stephen R. Haynes. Your Brain on Porn website: www.YourBrainOnPorn.com The statistics quoted from a study by Jennifer Johnson at Virginia Commonwealth University: (see page 183 of Stephen’s book) Johnson’s team found that 51%of college men in their study masturbated to pornography several times a week, 19%used it several times per month, and 13.5%were daily users.”

Father Bill continues a series of interviews with Stephen R. Haynes, professor of religious studies at Rhodes College and adjunct professor of recovery at Fuller Theological Seminary. Stephen’s new book Why Can’t the Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? explores the similarities and differences between communities of faith and communities of recovery. Stephen has traveled both worlds and shares insights and experiences gained along the way. This episode explores the Oxford Group, its founder Frank Buchman, and the religious background from which they came as well as exploring the balancing of religion and recovery. Show Notes: Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? by Stephen R. Haynes. Biography of Frank Buchman See: Garth Lean; On the Tail of a Comet Sample of Thomas Power’s speaking at an AA conference Rupert Sheldrake