AA Historian Dick B writes

Regarding the Oxford group and the Four Absolutes

The "Four Absolutes" actually originated in a book by Dr. Robert E. Speer, titled "The Principles of Jesus." Speer laid down four principles which he believed represented the uncompromising moral principles taught by Jesus. Speer cited verses from the Bible for each proposition. And his four principles were thereafter most commonly called the "Four Standards. But the term "absolutes" really came from Professor Henry B. Wright of Yale who popularized the expression "absolutes." He cited Speer's work. He dug up many verses from the Gospels and the Church Epistles that set forth these same principles. And Wright's immense influence on Dr. Frank Buchman, Founder of the Oxford Group, resulted in the adoption of the phrase "Four Absolutes." Bill Wilson referred to them by that name and even claimed they were incorporated into his Steps Six and Step Seven.The principles of Jesus and Dr. Robert E. Speer's

book: The "Four Absolutes" or "Four Standards," as they were also called, emerged directly from the research by Dr. Robert E. Speer into the heart of Jesus's teachings. Speer set out to prove that Jesus taught some four, specific, "absolute" moral standards. Perfection was Jesus's measuring standard. To get the roots straight, you need to start with Robert E. Speer, The Principles of Jesus. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1902, pp. 33-35. Speer provided the following Biblical documentation for the absolute standards of Jesus:

Honesty: John 8:44: "When he [the devil] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it" (Speer, p. 35).

Purity: Matthew 5:29-30: "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Speer, p. 35).

Unselfishness: Luke 14:33: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Speer, p. 35).

Love: John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (Speer, p. 35).

Note the following: First, the principles did not come exclusively from the "sermon on the mount" (Matthew 5 - 7). Second, they are demanding, absolute "targets" and "yardsticks" as far as the Oxford Group, Shoemaker, Dr. Bob, and Anne Smith saw them. Third, you can find other Gospel citations by Dr. Speer to verses that support the foregoing asserted moral standards. Fourth, the "moral" inventory idea-from which A.A.'s Fourth Step came-was definitely intended as a "moral" (as distinguished from immoral, sinful, unacceptable) inventory-not merely a list of good and bad characteristics.

Professor Henry B. Wright's Role: Wright examined Speer's standards in terms of the uncompromising standards that Jesus set. Then Wright looked at Jesus's teachings about life lived by the absolute standards. He documented his Scriptural references by citing verses from both the Gospels and the Epistles. Verses such as Luke 16:10-11 (honesty); Matthew 5:8 (purity); Luke 9:23-24 (unselfishness); Matthew 25:41-43, 45 (love). See Henry B. Wright, The Will of God and a Man's Lifework (New

York: The Young Men's Christian Association Press, 1909). Then, much as AAs later would individually do in expanding the checklists in Steps 4 and 10, Wright pointed to many Biblical proscriptions such as adultery, stealing, killing, lying, fornication, covetousness, and defrauding found in such verses as Mark 10:19-21; Ephesians 4:25-5:4; Colossians 3:5-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12; James 3:17. These remained a part of early Oxford Group ideas about unacceptable and immoral behavior.

The Big Book: Whatever has happened to the Four Absolutes in the A.A. recovery program, and despite criticisms of them by Bill Wilson, the principles are still in the Big Book for all to see. Honesty can be found emphasized-all through A.A.'s basic text. Unselfishness and the need for altruism, thoughtfulness, and consideration for others are paramount ideas. Love and the ideas of 1 Corinthians 13 are mentioned again and again, with an occasional Biblical reference as well. And purity? Was it lost? Not in Akron, where Dr. Bob and his group refused to have anything to do with those who committed adultery and other "sins." Today, the "purity" concept has slipped between the cracks in the fellowship and in its groups in favor of widespread fornication, "relationships," filthy language, adultery, and a host of other sins that man falls prey to. But these activities are not part of the A.A. recovery program as set forth in its Big Book-whether or not the teachings of Jesus have influenced that fact."