العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolOXFORD GROUP
''Not to be confused with the Oxford Movement of the 19th century Anglican Church. See below.''
The 'Oxford Group' was a Christian organization founded by American Christian missionary Dr. Frank Buchman. Buchman was an American Lutheran minister of Swiss descent who, in 1908, had a strong spiritual experience that convinced him that moral compromise destroys human character, and that moral clarity is a prerequisite for building a just society. His ideas and emphasis on personal change took root at Oxford and in some American universities.[1] In 1928, a group of students influenced by Buchman carried these precepts to South Africa. There they were labeled the "Oxford Group" by the press, and the name stuck to the work which Buchman had started.[2]
The group promoted a belief in divine guidance: one should wait for God to give direction in every aspect of life and surrender to that advice. Buchman's program emphasized acknowledgment of offenses against others, making restitution to those sinned against, and promoting the group to the public. Because of its positive influence on the lives of several highly prominent individuals, the Oxford Group attracted highly visible members of society, including members of the British Parliament and other European leaders[3] and such prominent Americans as the Firestone family, founders of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Ohio.[4] Though sometimes controversial (the group attracted opposition from the Roman Catholic Church[5]), the Oxford Group grew into a well-known, informal, and international network of people by the 1930s. The aim of the group remained adherence to what it called "the Four Absolutes" of absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love.[6]
The London newspaper editor Arthur J. Russell joined the Oxford Group after attending a meeting in 1931. He wrote ''For Sinners Only'' in 1932, which inspired the writers of ''God Calling''.
The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, William G. ("Bill W.") Wilson and Dr. Robert H. ("Dr. Bob") Smith, were inspired by Oxford Group principles in the 1930s.[7]
Prior to World War II, the Oxford Group changed its name to Moral Re-Armament (MRA) and believed that divine guidance would prevent war from breaking out. Daphne du Maurier's ''Come Wind, Come Weather'' recounted inspirational stories derived from Oxford Group experiences during the early years of WWII.
In 1965, Up with People was founded by members, and with the support, of Moral Re-Armament.
In 2001, Moral Re-Armament became Initiatives of Change.
The Oxford Group is occasionally confused with the Oxford Movement, an effort that began in the 19th century Anglican Church to encourage so-called High Church pratice and demonstrate the Church's apostolic heritage. Though both had an association with members and students of the University of Oxford at different times in history, the Oxford Group and the Oxford Movement were unrelated.
1. Sack, Daniel (2004). Men Want Something Real: Frank Buchman and Anglo-American College Religion in the 1920s. ''Journal of Religious History'' 28 (3), pp. 260–275.
2. http://www.aabibliography.com/aaphotonewhtml/moralre-arm.html
3. Moral Rearmament. ''Time,'' September 19, 1938.
4. Hartigan, Francis (2000). ''Bill W.: A Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounder Bill Wilson.'' New York: St. Martin's Press, pp. 78-79.
5. Kurtz, Ernest (1988). ''AA: The Story,'' a revised edition of ''Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous.'' New York: Harper & Row, p. 47.
6. http://www.aabibliography.com/oxfordsteps.html
7. ''Ibid.''
★ Frank N.D. Buchman at "An Illustrated Alcoholics Anonymous Bibliography"
The 'Oxford Group' was a Christian organization founded by American Christian missionary Dr. Frank Buchman. Buchman was an American Lutheran minister of Swiss descent who, in 1908, had a strong spiritual experience that convinced him that moral compromise destroys human character, and that moral clarity is a prerequisite for building a just society. His ideas and emphasis on personal change took root at Oxford and in some American universities.[1] In 1928, a group of students influenced by Buchman carried these precepts to South Africa. There they were labeled the "Oxford Group" by the press, and the name stuck to the work which Buchman had started.[2]
| Contents |
| Tenets and Influence |
| Moral Re-Armament |
| Confusion with Oxford Movement |
| References |
| External links |
Tenets and Influence
The group promoted a belief in divine guidance: one should wait for God to give direction in every aspect of life and surrender to that advice. Buchman's program emphasized acknowledgment of offenses against others, making restitution to those sinned against, and promoting the group to the public. Because of its positive influence on the lives of several highly prominent individuals, the Oxford Group attracted highly visible members of society, including members of the British Parliament and other European leaders[3] and such prominent Americans as the Firestone family, founders of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Ohio.[4] Though sometimes controversial (the group attracted opposition from the Roman Catholic Church[5]), the Oxford Group grew into a well-known, informal, and international network of people by the 1930s. The aim of the group remained adherence to what it called "the Four Absolutes" of absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love.[6]
The London newspaper editor Arthur J. Russell joined the Oxford Group after attending a meeting in 1931. He wrote ''For Sinners Only'' in 1932, which inspired the writers of ''God Calling''.
The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, William G. ("Bill W.") Wilson and Dr. Robert H. ("Dr. Bob") Smith, were inspired by Oxford Group principles in the 1930s.[7]
Moral Re-Armament
Prior to World War II, the Oxford Group changed its name to Moral Re-Armament (MRA) and believed that divine guidance would prevent war from breaking out. Daphne du Maurier's ''Come Wind, Come Weather'' recounted inspirational stories derived from Oxford Group experiences during the early years of WWII.
In 1965, Up with People was founded by members, and with the support, of Moral Re-Armament.
In 2001, Moral Re-Armament became Initiatives of Change.
Confusion with Oxford Movement
The Oxford Group is occasionally confused with the Oxford Movement, an effort that began in the 19th century Anglican Church to encourage so-called High Church pratice and demonstrate the Church's apostolic heritage. Though both had an association with members and students of the University of Oxford at different times in history, the Oxford Group and the Oxford Movement were unrelated.
References
1. Sack, Daniel (2004). Men Want Something Real: Frank Buchman and Anglo-American College Religion in the 1920s. ''Journal of Religious History'' 28 (3), pp. 260–275.
2. http://www.aabibliography.com/aaphotonewhtml/moralre-arm.html
3. Moral Rearmament. ''Time,'' September 19, 1938.
4. Hartigan, Francis (2000). ''Bill W.: A Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounder Bill Wilson.'' New York: St. Martin's Press, pp. 78-79.
5. Kurtz, Ernest (1988). ''AA: The Story,'' a revised edition of ''Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous.'' New York: Harper & Row, p. 47.
6. http://www.aabibliography.com/oxfordsteps.html
7. ''Ibid.''
External links
★ Frank N.D. Buchman at "An Illustrated Alcoholics Anonymous Bibliography"
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
