David Carr explains how AA affected him spiritually:
All along the way, in [substance abuse] recovery, I’ve been helped … by all of these strangers who get in a room and do a form of group-talk therapy and live by certain rules in their life — and one of the rules is that you help everyone who needs help. And I think to myself: Well, that seems remarkable. Not only is that not a general human impulse, but it’s not an impulse of mine. … I’m kind of a thug. I’ve done a bunch of terrible things. And yet I’m able to, for the most part, be a decent person. How is that? Do I have some inner strength of character? I think not. I think something else is working on me.
Fred Clark is reminded of Jesus’s response when asked which commandment is the most important.
The Dish 