History of Primary Purpose Group & Spiritus Contra Spiritum
PPG
The Primary Purpose Group was founded on January 26, 1988, in Dallas Texas, by Cliff Bishop. This was done
with one specific purpose in mind: to bring the focus of our meetings back to the Program of Alcoholics
Anonymous. That is, to learn what is in the Big Book.
“The Arkansas Travelers,” Joe McQ. & Charlie P. came to Dallas and after a weekend of listening to these two
men, it became clear why we weren’t happy in our sobriety.
One of the first things that became apparent as we pursued our study was that we had drifted away from the
path the First One Hundred had prepared for us. For example, as Bill reported:
“Having had a spiritual awaking as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics…” We
had been trying to have a spiritual awakening as the result of meetings. It wasn’t working.
As Joe McQ. Said, “If such a group was active in every community, it would make a big difference in the lives of
many alcoholics and those who love them.” We have found that to be true.
Cliff Bishop left this legacy for us on 7/29/2016.
SCS
Excerpt from a response letter from Professor Dr. Carl G. Jung to William G. Wilson on January 30, 1961:
“You see, Alcohol in Latin is “spiritus” and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as
well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.”
In 1909, Dr. Jung met Dr. William James, the author of “The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in
Human Nature” released in 1902, at a meeting at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Jung
developed the ideas of Dr. James after his break from Dr. Sigmund Freud.
In 1931, this idea of “Spirit against Spirit” was given to ‘Rowland’ Hazard III upon his last visit to Dr. Jung after
drinking again quickly after leaving him for the treatment of his alcoholism. In desperation, Rowland begged
Dr. Jung to tell him the whole truth. The good Doctor told Rowland he was “hopeless”, but after Rowland
asked if there were exceptions, the Doctor followed with, “Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have
had what are called vital spiritual experiences.”. There is Hope.
Rowland returned home, in New York, and got involved with the Oxford Groups, led by an Episcopal
clergyman, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker. Rowland carried the idea along with Oxford Group’s message to Edwin
‘Ebby’ Thatcher, a school mate of William G. ‘Bill W’ Wilson. Ebby then did the same to Bill W. Dr. James’ book
was given to Bill W while he was in the hospital under the care of Dr. William D. Silkworth in 1934, by Ebby.
This was after Bill W had a “ego collapse at depth”, spiritual experience, and was relieved of his alcohol
obsession as a result. Bill W went on to become AA’s co-founder, along with Dr. Robert H. ‘Dr. Bob’ Smith,
whom he carried that same idea to.
Dr. James told Dr. Jung, Dr. Jung told Rowland, Rowland told Ebby, Ebby told Bill W, Bill W told Dr. Bob.
The God idea works!
Primary Purpose Group – Spiritus Contra Spiritum
The idea for PPG-SCS was conceived in early 2020 by an alcoholic from Houston, TX, and proposed to an alcoholic from Austin, TX soon after. They both saw there would be a need for a PPG type meeting once all of the PPG groups went back to face to face meetings. So on September 24, 2020 the first meeting of PPG-SCS happened. Please join us and help us continue the legacy of the Arkansas Travelers and Cliff Bishop.
We are a part of SETA 67/District 40.