What Is the Alpha Course? An Insiders Guide

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Education

[sweetsweatyfeet]

Use bribery and temptation to draw people in for a "little discussion", then lay out Alpha's full agenda of Christian indoctrination. Best not to let in too many atheists in the course (not that many would take the course) as you run the risk of them having too much influence on the rest of the group and jeopardizing Alpha's agenda.

[thealphacourse]

@sweetsweatyfeet Hi there, thanks for your comment. Have you tried the course? We've found many atheists have a positive response to their experience of the Alpha course including respected journalist Deborah Orr., "Doing an Alpha Course is challenging and serious fun, even if you're a dyed-in-the-wool atheist like me."

[sweetsweatyfeet]

@thealphacourse I don't doubt it might be stimulating depending on how the "course" is run, what is discussed and whether atheists are allowed to speak unfettered---but aren't you worried that too many atheists in attendance might cause some Christians to doubt their faith? People (especially the young) are losing their religion at an unprecedented rate and Christianity is in serious decline.

[thealphacourse]

@sweetsweatyfeet It isn't a worry at all, having the opportunity to speak 'unfettered' is kind of the point. Alpha is there for people to ask the difficult questions, to feel free to challenge the subject matter and to feel their input is valued. The discussion is a lot of fun!

[markcedwards]

@sweetsweatyfeet I have to agree - I've been to the "official how to run an Alpha course" training where it is constantly stressed that the idea of the discussion groups is for everyone to have their say, no question is deemed too antagonistic, or too basic. Having helped with quite a few Alpha courses I reckon the best discussion groups are definitely the ones with "too many atheists"! They should advertise "Atheists wanted to pep up Alpha course discussions!" - you could definitely contribute.

[sweetsweatyfeet]

@thealphacourse I am fully in favor of open dialogue and thoughtful Inquiry. However I see these as polar opposites to "inerrant doctrine" and absolutism of biblical dogma. Which is why Christians themselves have splintered off into thousands of subdivisions called denominations who quarrel, bicker and even condemn each other over the meaning of scripture.

Wherever you find pronouncements of absolute "truth" requiring dogmatic belief, you always get conflict.