Oxford Group

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The Oxford Group was a Christian organization founded by American Christian missionary Dr. Frank Buchman. The original members of the group had no formal affiliation with the University of Oxford – they had adopted the name after a porter on a train group members were traveling on mistakenly posted a sign by their Pullman indicating they had come from Oxford. 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.

Prior to World War II, the Oxford Group changed its name to Moral Re-Armament 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. Moral Re-Armament would eventually change its name again, to Initiatives of Change. In 1965, Up with People was founded by members, and with the support, of Moral Re-Armament.

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, Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith, were inspired by Oxford Group principles.