Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

STEP TWO

tific progress: search and research, again and again, always
with the open mind. When I first looked at A.A. my re-
action was just like yours. This A.A. business, I thought,
is totally unscientific. This I can't swallow. I simply won't
consider such nonsense.

"Then I woke up. I had to admit that A.A. showed re-
sults, prodigious results. I saw that my attitude regarding
these had been anything but scientific. It wasn't A.A. that
had the closed mind, it was me. The minute I stopped ar-
guing, I could begin to see and feel. Right there, Step Two
gently and very gradually began to infiltrate my life. I can't
say upon what occasion or upon what day I came to believe
in a Power greater than myself, but I certainly have that
belief now. To acquire it, I had only to stop fighting and
practice the rest of A.A.'s program as enthusiastically as
I could.

"This is only one man's opinion based on his own experi-
ence, of course. I must quickly assure you that A.A.'s tread
innumerable paths in their quest for faith. If you don't care
for the one I've suggested, you'll be sure to discover one
that suits if only you look and listen. Many a man like you
has begun to solve the problem by the method of substitu-
tion. You can, if you wish, make A.A. itself your ‘higher
power.' Here's a very large group of people who have solved
their alcohol problem. In this respect they are certainly a
power greater than you, who have not even come close to a
solution. Surely you can have faith in them. Even this mini-
mum of faith will be enough. You will find many members
who have crossed the threshold just this way. All of them
will tell you that, once across, their faith broadened and