A Rebel in the Oxford Group: Coming Home & Knowing It for the First Time

David Belden was born into a family of Oxford Group leaders and committed activists. The Group set out “to change the world” and throughout his early years David devoted himself wholeheartedly to this challenge. But while “carrying the message” in Africa, his life took an unexpected turn that led to his questioning some of principles and practices he had once taken uncritically for granted.

David returned to Oxford University to write his doctoral dissertation on the Group’s history, influence and shortcomings. He recently published a still more intimate account of his own journey toward personal and social transformation and change: The World Remakers’ Child.

This series affords a rare insider’s view of the Group responsible for contributing no fewer than ten of A.A.’s Twelve Steps and yields fresh insights and challenges throughout. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson praised David’s book for its “steady candor,” “humor about himself,” and “a thirst for a less harsh, more loving, and fairer world.”

In this final episode Dave’s early Oxford Group goal of “world changing” may have traveled full circle. It’s reminiscent of the poet T.S Elliott’s famous lines:

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.

Show notes:

David Belden’s book: The World Remakers’ Child

Dave’s Oxford University Doctoral Thesis:

https://www.academia.edu/27545723/The_Origins_and_Development_of_the_Oxford_Group_Moral_Re_Armament_

Dave’s website: https://www.davidbelden.com/

Dave doing a recent book reading at his Unitarian Universalist Church:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/QgrcJHsHpqWKvMChSdmxXjJNlDCGCJGCgHL?projector=1

This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century by Paul and Mark Engler

How 12 Step Programs Can Help Build Healthier Movements

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/10/how-12-step-programs-can-help-build-healthier-movements/

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(310)

How to Start a Two Way Prayer Group

We all know the saying, “You have to give it away to keep it.” That idea may be especially true of the practice of Two Way Prayer. Listening for God’s guidance was at the center of the transformative ...

8 Jun 27min

Henrietta Seiberling - The Woman Behind the AA Curtain

Most in recovery know that Henrietta was the woman who answered a phone call from Bill Wilson and put him in touch with Dr. Bob; but there’s a whole lot more to her story than that. In this episode Fr...

1 Jun 48min

A Footnote on Experience vs Awakening

In this short episode, Fr. Bill reflects on a brief recording of Bill Wilson’s unsuccessful attempts to return to the original 12 Step wording of “spiritual experience” over “spiritual awakening.” He...

26 Mai 9min

Father Ed Dowling: Bill W's Spiritual Sponsor

Throughout his life, Father Ed was attracted to those who suffered - and since AA describes itself as “a program of attraction,” there’s little wonder this Jesuit priest was drawn to 12-Step members f...

18 Mai 52min

Love Leads Us Home

This series address what some of us in recovery refer to as “the God problem.” Does God exist? Does God really care about us humans – and maybe more honestly and specifically, does God care about me ...

11 Mai 43min

What in God's Name?

4 Mai 45min

Let Go Absolutely - For Real???

27 Apr 49min

God Is Ohhh So Close

This series addresses what some of us in recovery refer to as “the God problem.” Does God exist? Does God really care about us humans – and maybe more honestly and specifically, does God care about m...

20 Apr 45min