Keep seeing this on billboards,always outside churches.Is it some religious course or what ? Has anyone been on it ? and what is it about ? Is it free ?

Originally posted by pattricia
Keep seeing this on billboards,always outside churches.Is it some religious course or what ? Has anyone been on it ? and what is it about ? Is it free ?

i think it's like talks and discussion groups .

This might help www.alphacourse.org

A Bible course... You learn about, you know, God and stuff.

It's free to attend, but there is a wealth of videos, books and audio CDs for the devoted to spend their hard earned cash on.

It's basically a speaking in tongues kinda sect, with people wigging out left right and centre.

If you have ever heard of the 'Toronto Blessing' then the Alpha Course picks that up, stirs in some aspirational pseudo-spirituality about not knowing the real meaning of life, does a nice Anglican Style evasion on the nature or existence of God the king and God the creator, and is especially designed (in London at least) for the materially satisfied, but curiously empty wealthy middle classes looking for meaning beyond Prada, Starck, Krups, Sony and Apple.

It's fantastically successful worldwide. Sounds like a cult to me, but no doubt someone will set me straight.

A discussion course (12 weeks I think) based in churches about life, God, church, the Bible, religions and various other bits and pieces. Very informal in style, usually with food - aimed at people who just want to ask questions and chat about stuff without feeling obliged to go to a church service or anything like that.

Originally posted by tango2
[]This might help www.alphacourse.org [/B] Thanks tango.Just had a quick look on the site, and says "The Alpha Course consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christion Faith. Im just nosey thats all.

It's a course designed to bring people in to the Church of England.

I believe it's more from the evangelical wing of the CofE rather than the 'traditional' wing - draws on the 'Toronto Blessing' as a start point. As well as the courses there are a couple of weekends involved which are more immersive.

It suits some people, but others have said that they found the weekends rather emotional and intense. It's not my cup of tea; I view it to be a little too 'happy clappy' for my view of God.

Joe

Not just a CofE thing. It originated in Holy Trimity Brompton which is CofE but nearly all the Christian denominations (and non-denonimational churches) do Alpha nowadays.

Originally posted by JoeP
It's a course designed to bring people in to the Church of England.

I believe it's more from the evangelical wing of the CofE rather than the 'traditional' wing - draws on the 'Toronto Blessing' as a start point. As well as the courses there are a couple of weekends involved which are more immersive.

It suits some people, but others have said that they found the weekends rather emotional and intense. It's not my cup of tea; I view it to be a little too 'happy clappy' for my view of God.

Joe

Just wait until you end up lying in a puddle of your own saliva, and need to take a taxi home because you are "drunk with the spirit of the lord".

By creating the right context and atmosphere, I think the alpha course aims to 'flash people's EPROMS' through a singular, 'spiritual' event, that physically overcomes them. It's a branch of mass hypnosis. Combine this event, with a strongly delivered message that abrogates morality to the institution, and you have another glassy eyed convert to send out into the multitude.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
It's free to attend, but there is a wealth of videos, books and audio CDs for the devoted to spend their hard earned cash on.

It's basically a speaking in tongues kinda sect, with people wigging out left right and centre.

If you have ever heard of the 'Toronto Blessing' then the Alpha Course picks that up, stirs in some aspirational pseudo-spirituality about not knowing the real meaning of life, does a nice Anglican Style evasion on the nature or existence of God the king and God the creator, and is especially designed (in London at least) for the materially satisfied, but curiously empty wealthy middle classes looking for meaning beyond Prada, Starck, Krups, Sony and Apple.

It's fantastically successful worldwide. Sounds like a cult to me, but no doubt someone will set me straight. Thats exactly what I thought it would be !

A bit like five pints down the Kelham Island then!

i used to be a christian til i saw the light and realised there was no god but i did an aplha course and the main point of it is to convert you but make you feel like you're the one choosing it and its free cos once you're converted you go mad and put all your money in the collection lol :loopy:

Many people ask questions about religion and how it all works and this is what the Alpha courses are addressing. Nice easy to understand, non threatening discussions with plenty of time to ask questions. For example why does God allow bad things to happen or how can you believe in Jesus. One little snippet of info i was given once on the subject of Jesus is that there is more written info on jesus from relatively near the time he lived than there is for Napoleon and nobody says Napoleon never existed.
I don't believe it's intent is to pressurise people or put them on the spot but it can be very thought provoking [or so I've been led to believe]
Not to clued up on the Toronto blessing although I do know people who have been over there and as it sounds as though it freaked out many christians I don't think that the Alpha course would be anything as intense.

The Alpha course is a discussion about God and the Church basically. I have never known anyone wail or flap thier arms around then fall to the ground "in the spirit" so to speak...at least not on the course i went on! I was one of only 2 Christians on the course - the other was the Vicar...well perhaps i WAS the only one!

Anyway - its free and if you dont like it you dont have to go again! Its designed to help people understand what Christianity is all about. Not just CofE.

I attended an Alpha Course two years ago.

It was informal, friendly, fun, non-threatening and at no point during or since the course have I been pressured into attending church or becoming a Christian.

I went with an open mind and with plenty of questions, some of which weren't answered very satisfactorily. But there was a lot I learned which I found quite comforting.

As has been said, there are no pressures and you can walk out any time you like. Why not give it a go? There'll be others there with the same questions and feelings as yourself.

Personally speaking, it was out of curiosity that I walked into my local church (St Luke's, Hallam) and then went on the Alpha Course. I attend church fairly regularly but maintain a stance of 'it might not be for everyone'.

Oh, and I don't own a pair of sandals.

(Although I do have some flip-flops.)

http://beatles.ncf.ca/vernon.html
Not only is Alpha popular, it's rich. HTB alone rakes in nearly $12-million annually from its parishioners in the collection, while participating Alpha parishes kick in $500 from their own funds to buy the videos and manuals when they run the course (the videos and instruction manuals are a one-time expense, while the participant manuals vary from church to church). When you do the math, at the moment, Alpha has made at least $8-million from the 16,000 courses -- and then some, when churches and individuals and corporations make donations. Nicky Gumbel's huge staff at HTB and his slick yet sincere international marketing campaign of videos, newsletters and conferences reveal an organization that knows what it's doing, and has the means with which to do it.

- - -

Cold hard cash has never met a religion it didn't like, but money is not the thing that has earned Alpha criticism: It's the speaking in tongues, which, to some, seems more fanatical than fundamental. And the movement's tendency, as some Christian observers note, to make the Christian message too simplistic, with God and Christ as camp counsellors. Or worse, letting the Roman Catholics play, too -- since many Christian fundamentalists, in more generous moments, regard Catholics as being in league with Jews, Muslims, and worshippers of Apollo.

I also did this course, but in Sheffield it was called Brass Tacks.
It lasted 7 weeks and explained the meaning of Christianity literally from the beginning.
It was very civilised and people were able to just listen or to ask questions.
Each evening began with a meal in sociable surroundings and then we listened to the vicar explaining a different point of the Christian faith.
Finally we split into groups for discussion.
The course didn't include a week-end away or happy clappy singing or anyone "speaking in tongues"!.
I found it non-threatening and very interesting.
A good way to learn about faith in a relaxed environment.
I wasn't aware that anyone on the course came from a particularly materialistic background and was searching for "a meaning to life" which their life-style denied them.

I did this course back in Birmingham during my Theology degree - I found it really patronising but then again I was probably a little more informed than your average non-believer. I think the experience you would have of Alpha largely depends on the church you do it at - choose an evangelical church and you are more likely to come across the "happy-clappy" sort of attitude. I did it at a middle of the road CofE church and as such demonstration of "spiritual gifts" ie: speaking in tongues is unlikely to happen as it goes against the teaching of St. Paul in the Acts of the Apsotles.

Anyway - they asked me not to come back at about week 8. Apparently I asked too many difficult questions.

has anybody done alpha course with st thomas church???

Originally posted by Floe
I wasn't aware that anyone on the course came from a particularly materialistic background and was searching for "a meaning to life" which their life-style denied them.

A review of Alpha Course promotional material reveals a goodly proportion of it aimed squarely at the affluent.

Unlike more traditional faiths that offer something to those at rock bottom (preying on the vulnerable), I believe alpha works by helping you identify your vulnerabilities (lack of moral foundation, no meaning to life, no satisfaction gained from all things that are meant to give you satisfaction, the feeling there is more, normal human existential angst in other words)

"No Question too Hostile" they say.

My question: "Do members of the HTB and the wider alpha course ever suffer from glossolalia and other "Toronto Blessing" phenomena, and what causes them?"

Anyone from the Alpha Course answer that for me?

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
A review of Alpha Course promotional material reveals a goodly proportion of it aimed squarely at the affluent.

Unlike more traditional faiths that offer something to those at rock bottom (preying on the vulnerable), I believe alpha works by helping you identify your vulnerabilities (lack of moral foundation, no meaning to life, no satisfaction gained from all things that are meant to give you satisfaction, the feeling there is more, normal human existential angst in other words)

"No Question too Hostile" they say.

My question: "Do members of the HTB and the wider alpha course ever suffer from glossolalia and other "Toronto Blessing" phenomena, and what causes them?"

Anyone from the Alpha Course answer that for me?

OK!

Yes they probably do, along with a lot of other Churches.
The Totonto Blessing is basically falling down "in the spirit" and is so named because it first happened in Toronto. Cant say im 100% convinced that this phenomena really exists, and i am very sceptical that people just want the attention, which is what people outside of the Church see, and therfore it doesnt do the Churches reputation any good.

Dunno what Glossolalia is?

Originally posted by Avalon
Dunno what Glossolalia is?

glossolalia: incomprehensible speech occurring in trance or religious ecstasy

kinda similar to speaking in tongues, although most protestant churches say that if there is no meaning then it's just gibbering. One of the proofs of speaking in tongues over just randomly spouting rubbish is another person being able to understand and translate to laymans terms. I withhold judgement :)

Personally, I find the alpha course largely non-threatening and fairly relaxed and friendly, except for the weekend retreat thing in the middle which just freaked me out.

Originally posted by spiffymonkey
glossolalia: incomprehensible speech occurring in trance or religious ecstasy

kinda similar to speaking in tongues, although most protestant churches say that if there is no meaning then it's just gibbering. One of the proofs of speaking in tongues over just randomly spouting rubbish is another person being able to understand and translate to laymans terms. I withhold judgement :)

Personally, I find the alpha course largely non-threatening and fairly relaxed and friendly, except for the weekend retreat thing in the middle which just freaked me out.

Yeah that got me too!

Originally posted by Avalon
The Totonto Blessing is basically falling down "in the spirit" and is so named because it first happened in Toronto. Cant say im 100% convinced that this phenomena really exists.

Falling down, and laughing uncontrollably too. It does really exist, but the smart money is on it not being anything to do with God. Likewise the phenomena seen at HTB and other Alpha Course Retreats.

It's a cult.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Falling down, and laughing uncontrollably too. It does really exist, but the smart money is on it not being anything to do with God. Likewise the phenomena seen at HTB and other Alpha Course Retreats.

It's a cult.

Sorry i meant "Im to 100% convinces that this phenomena really exists how most Christians would want you to belive. Basically what you said.....ill get my coat...

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Falling down, and laughing uncontrollably too. It does really exist, but the smart money is on it not being anything to do with God. Likewise the phenomena seen at HTB and other Alpha Course Retreats.


You sure you're not getting mixed up with a night out at The Roxy?

Having said that, that building was last used as a church IIRC.

Jesus called on the sick, not the healthy. Looking at the amount of vomit deposited near night clubs the future of the church might be more rosey than many people think!!

Originally posted by Phanerothyme


It's a cult.

It's not a cult. There is no way in the world you can call it a cult - unless you are going to label Christianity a cult (which I appreciate some of you closed minds out there may try and do). There is no way you can compare the brains behind Alpha to David Koresh for example.

The Alpha course is merely a latch ditch attempt to raise pitiful attendance figures in our country's churches (and cash of course). No more, no less.

I think it takes someone with an OPEN mind to call cristianity a cult:

Idol worship.
Tithing,
Rigid hierarchies letting those at the top live in a fine old style,
Nonsensical handbook.
Fighting with opposing religions.
Torture & witch burning.
Excommunication.
Martyrs...


Surely all the major religions are cults that got lucky.

Originally posted by absynthfairy
There is no way you can compare the brains behind Alpha to David Koresh for example.

I'd beg to differ, at root they believe the same things and read the same book.

The Alpha course is merely a latch ditch attempt to raise pitiful attendance figures in our country's churches (and cash of course).

If your product doesn't sell, who's to blame? New packaging and a revamped marketing campaign might work for a bit but ultimately if the consumer has moved on, your product is on the way out. Like the Greek gods or sun worship – past their sell-by date.