There Are No Musts

Recently, I’ve noticed a different tone, content and message from some members of the Fellowship than I recall hearing in my early sobriety. There seems to be a growing undercurrent of intolerance toward members who are working the AA program “the wrong way.” There seems to be a call for such people to return to the “original program” that these folks profess is outlined in the first 164 pages of the Big Book. There are also differences of opinion with regard to whether one should refer to oneself as “recovered” or “in recovery” and controversy around the “singleness of purpose” concept and whether those who also have drug problems should be allowed to share honestly about them at our AA meetings without self-censorship.