Alpha Course

Advantages: You may just find what you are looking for. Itsfree!
Disadvantages: The questions it raises can be unsettling for some.

...is to check out the Alpha website. Just pop in your postcode and you will get a long list of local churches offering the course. There is also some general infomation on what is covered. Alternatively most C of E churches will have the relevent info. and will be aware of local courses. WHAT TO EXPECT Now the tricky bit, actually walking through the door. To my relief I was not greeted by anyone wierd wielding a tamborine. Just by a normal, smiling ...
...Alpha Senior Alpha Student Alpha Alpha in the Workplace Alpha for Prisons (captive audience?) Alpha for the Forces Alpha in a Catholic Context THE BOOK If you would like to know the content before hand or are just curious this is the book accompanying the course. There is a very good review of this book on Ciao already, so check it out. ALPHA - Questions of Life Nicky Gumbel Kingsway Communications Ltd £5.99 NICKY GUMBEL He is the pioneer ... Read review

Advantages: You'll get out of it what you want! Meet lots of people, free food
Disadvantages: Quite intense at first

...the official website on the Alpha course sums the whole thing up much better than I could, even if I sat and thought for half an hour like I usually do when thinking up catchy titles for my opinions. A few years ago, around the Millennium, the 'Alpha Course' enjoyed a short period of publicity as it was reported that several celebrities and politicians had decided to undergo the twelve week course. On the back of this, ITV1 commissioned a late night ...
...like most things Christian the Alpha course is massively well known among Christians but not so well known among the 'unchurched' general population. This is something the organisers are trying hard to change, and there are some indications it is working.. No doubt now you are asking 'what is 'The Alpha Course', and 'what's all this about changing lives'?? Well, let me explain. Alpha is basically an 'introduction to Christianity' set over twelve ... Read review

Advantages: You meet lots of like minded people.
Disadvantages: None.

So what exactly is the Alpha Course? It is a short course, run over a number of weeks (one session a week or thereabouts). It was designed to provide a 'refreshing' look at Christianity, both for Christians and for non-Christians alike. Where did it come from? A well known Christian speaker and auther called Nicky Gumbel actually wrote this, based out of Holy Trinity Brompton - a Church of England church in one of the nicer parts of the capital. ...
...ITV1 (as it was then), and then got comissioned to the rest of the country. So what is involved? Well, like I said it is a short course that is run over a number of weeks. Each session will last for around 1.5 - 2 hours, and consists of the group sitting down for a meal first. Once this has been finished, they will go into a time of listening to the speaker talk about the topic for that particular week. Once this has taken part, you will then move ... Read review

Advantages: The people will be friendly and there will be a good atmosphere
Disadvantages: The program is structured so that awkward questions are not asked

...should be aware that the Alpha Course is one mans version of what Christianity is all about, a man called Nicky Gumbell. I am a Christian myself, but would disagree with a lot of what he writes. He sees everything from a Charismatic perspective and the whole aim of the course is climaxed by a day or weekend away where perhaps some people will lay hands on you to receive what he calls the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Its important for you to know ...
...the holy Spirit the moment you become a Christian, and is not a "second stage" Most people who attend Alpha courses are already Christians, and a lot of very important questions just aren't covered, and its less than honest in its opinions....very propagandish. Just don't accept everything ask questions ... Read review

Advantages: social, discussion about christianity, meet new people, find out what church is like
Disadvantages: weak arguments, holy spirit madness, no experience of God

...banal and rather too popular Alpha Course, pioneered at Holy Trinity Brompton in the 1970s and modified for the general public by Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican vicar, in the 1990s. By 2007 it had been reported that over 10 million people worldwide (2 million in the UK) had attended a course. The Alpha Course is meant to be an introduction to the essentials of Christianity. It involves eating a meal, watching a video and then having a discussion, with ...
...his charismatic craziness then the Alpha Course is for you. However if you'd rather keep yourself from becoming the 10,000,001st victim of a scam (and an attractive one at that), then all the better for you. Alpha Curse Mug If you would like to purchase an Alpha Curse mug, they are available from the Anti-Church Store (see www.antichurch.co.uk for link). Good for annoying Christians! You could even secretly put one or two in your local ... Read review