4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This could be a very useful principle—and not just for alcoholics. A searching and fearless self-examination is obviously useful to those attempting to rebuild shattered lives (or to those simply attempting to live happier, more productive lives). Few things are more useful to former alcoholics than discovering the reasons why they drank excessively. For once they've discovered those reasons, and especially the irrational beliefs which made drinking seem attractive, they can deal with them.
Unfortunately, the fourth step doesn't call for an inventory of irrational beliefs, physical causes, or other contributory factors; it calls for a moral inventory. What this has to do with recovery from alcoholism is anybody's guess. Unless one believes that alcoholism is caused by sin, this step makes no sense whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Bill Wilson was an enthusiastic Oxford Grouper and did, at bottom, believe that alcoholism was caused by sin. If Wilson actually believed that alcoholism was caused by an "allergy," as Dr. Silkworth speculates in the "Big Book," it's extremely difficult to see why he would have included the guilt-inducing, religious term "moral" in this step. But at the time he wrote the steps, Wilson regarded the Oxford Group Movement as his rescuer, and so it was natural that he would share the assumption of the Groups that all human problems are a direct result of sin.
In sum, this step is designed to produce guilt, and hence low self esteem, which tends to contribute to self-damaging rather than self caring behavior. Step four performs one other function: it prepares those being indoctrinated into AA for the next step, confession.
Step 4 Satire
You must turn your will and your mind over to the care of Santa Claus / Tooth Fairy. The brains that God gave you were worthless and useless anyway, as you were told not to think in the old 12 step program. This step will help you to feel very guilty; therefore you will have low self-esteem and will help with confession of your sins in the next miracle step. Keep coming back; it doesn’t work even if you work it.
ANONYMOUS
