The Alpha Course

[borrofburi]

How many people go to this thing?

 

[Helicobacter]

Alpha courses are the worst. My parents sent me to one back when I was a teen (even though I was already a Christian then...wtf). It claims to be really mind-blowing and that all heathens will come out baptized but it's par at best with the average defense of Christianity. Hope you get some lols in!

Most of the people who go to those things are people who really don't think about religion all that much but feel guilty about not going to church, so they want some justification or reason to be enthusiastic about going. Definitely not a hot-bed for rational discourse with anyone who has critically analyzed Christianity. You'd be shooting fish in a barrel if you brought up even the most basic arguments against Christianity... :lol:

 

[ImprobableJoe]

How many people go to this thing?

One person is too many.

 

[australopithecus]

Well I imagine, due to their lame admin and organisation skills, no one is going round my way.

 

[DeusExNihilum]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but I found this last year in the comment section in Pharyngula

http://alphacoursereview.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/week-1a-introduction/

It is an 11 week, quite indepth, review/description of the Alpha course. It is an incredibly interesting read from the perspective of a non-believer.

 

[Dragan Glas]

Greetings,

Adam Rutherford did a great talk at last year's TAM London about his experiences on the Alpha Course. I've been meaning to find the time to actually do it, although I do prefer to critique things from a position of absolute ignorance, as recent comments on my channel suggest.

Needless to say, the course is just a series of lectures advertising a fairly narrow flavour of Christianity, and there ain't gonna be anything new or compelling within.

...Also known as "Christianity for Dummies" (or Americans, for whom it appears to have particular appeal).

You'd get far more out of reading a book, such as "The Thinker's Guide To God".

Kindest regards,

James

 

[lrkun]

Greetings,

Adam Rutherford did a great talk at last year's TAM London about his experiences on the Alpha Course. I've been meaning to find the time to actually do it, although I do prefer to critique things from a position of absolute ignorance, as recent comments on my channel suggest.

Needless to say, the course is just a series of lectures advertising a fairly narrow flavour of Christianity, and there ain't gonna be anything new or compelling within.

...Also known as "Christianity for Dummies" (or Americans, for whom it appears to have particular appeal).

You'd get far more out of reading a book, such as "The Thinker's Guide To God".

Kindest regards,

James

What do you mean? Did you test the Alpha Course before?

 

[Dragan Glas]

Greetings,

No, Irkun, but I've heard from someone who has - he wasn't impressed with it: "A complete waste of my time...".

Kindest regards,

James

 

[lrkun]

Greetings,

No, Irkun, but I've heard from someone who has - he wasn't impressed with it: "A complete waste of my time...".

Kindest regards,

James

Do you mean to say that you based your conclusion on another person's opinion? What if he was wrong?

note:

I'm not saying that I recommend Christian courses, I mean to apply this in general, isn't it better to make a conclusion based on facts rather than the say so of others?

 

[Dragan Glas]

Greetings,

I understand your point, Irkun.

Two reasons for my accepting his word:

1) He was a senior consultant at the computer company, for which I worked in the UK at the time - as such, I had (have) little reason to not accept his word;
2) As both of us were(!) RC, we shared similar views on Christianity - hence, if he didn't find it of value, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done either.

The "Christianity for Dummies" was originally from elsewhere - he'd tried it, having already heard the phrase, and essentially agreed with the description.

Kindest regards,

James

 

[lrkun]

Greetings,

I understand your point, Irkun.

Two reasons for my accepting his word:

1) He was a senior consultant at the computer company, for which I worked in the UK at the time - as such, I had (have) little reason to not accept his word;
2) As both of us were(!) RC, we shared similar views on Christianity - hence, if he didn't find it of value, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done either.

The "Christianity for Dummies" was originally from elsewhere - he'd tried it, having already heard the phrase, and essentially agreed with the description.

Kindest regards,

James

You mean to say that his word is trustworthy and that he wouldn't give you a dishonest criticism of the program. I understand.

 

[Dragan Glas]

Greetings,

Pretty much - yes.

Kindest regards,

James

 

[australopithecus]

So it looks like next wednesday is the day. I would have gone yesterday but we decided to see Green Hornet instead, so the fun will begin next week hopefully.

 

[lrkun]

So it looks like next wednesday is the day. I would have gone yesterday but we decided to see Green Hornet instead, so the fun will begin next week hopefully.

I suppose it's like going to Disney land, a place filled with fun and games. ^-^

 

[quantumfireball2099]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but I found this last year in the comment section in Pharyngula

http://alphacoursereview.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/week-1a-introduction/

It is an 11 week, quite indepth, review/description of the Alpha course. It is an incredibly interesting read from the perspective of a non-believer.

Thanks for that link. It was a very enjoyable read. I grew up in a church similar to where that Alpha Course took place. It takes me back, and not in a good way.

 

[Krazyskooter]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but I found this last year in the comment section in Pharyngula

http://alphacoursereview.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/week-1a-introduction/

It is an 11 week, quite indepth, review/description of the Alpha course. It is an incredibly interesting read from the perspective of a non-believer.

Thanks for that link. It was a very enjoyable read. I grew up in a church similar to where that Alpha Course took place. It takes me back, and not in a good way.

Yeah, I enjoyed the link as well. The Author asked many of the same questions I have thought about, and was given the same mind boggling excuses that I have recieved that I have been given.