Alpha course

The Alpha course is a basic course on the Christian faith, commonly advertised as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life". Originating with the Church of England, the course is currently offered in 152 countries by many different denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, British New Church Movement and Orthodox churches.

History

Alpha was started by the Revd Charles Marnham, a curate at Holy Trinity, Brompton, a Church of England parish in London. The name 'Alpha' was suggested by Tricia Marnham, Charles' wife. It started as a course for church members on the basics of the Christian faith but then began to be used as an introduction for those interested in the faith. In 1990 the Revd Nicky Gumbel, at that time a curate at Holy Trinity, took over the running of the course at the invitation of the Revd Sandy Millar, the then vicar, and oversaw its revision and expansion.

In 2007, over 33,500 courses were offered in more than 160 countries and in many Christian denominations. By 2007 it was reported that over 10 million people worldwide had attended an Alpha course.Fact|date=September 2008

Structure

The Alpha course is organized as a series of sessions over ten weeks, typically preceded by an 'Alpha Supper' which often includes the talk "Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?" and with a day or weekend away which includes three or four of the talks asterisked [*] below. Each session starts with a meal, followed by a talk (often a video of one by Nicky Gumbel) and then discussion in small groups. The talks aim to cover the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The complete list of talk titles, which follows the chapters of Nicky Gumbel's book "Questions of Life", is:

* Is there more to life than this? (previously Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?)
* Who is Jesus?
* Why did Jesus die?
* How can I be sure of my faith?
* Why and how should I read the Bible?
* Why and how should I pray?
* How does God guide us?
* Who is the Holy Spirit? [*]
* What does the Holy Spirit do? [*]
* How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? [*]
* How can I resist evil?
* Why and how should I tell others?
* Does God heal today?
* What about the church?
* How can I make the most of the rest of my Life? [*]

Attendees are issued with "The Alpha Course Manual", which contains an outline of each talk, and space for making notes.

Special versions of the Alpha course tailored for specific demographics exist, including "Youth Alpha" and "Alpha for Prisons".

Doctrine

Alpha's teachings are intended to centre upon aspects of Christian faith on which all denominations are in general agreement. Nicky Gumbel says "What unites us is far greater than what divides us." Roman Catholic distinctives, such as those concerning the Virgin Mary and certain sacramental teachings are absent, as are Baptist teachings on baptism. Instead, individual denominations are encouraged to provide follow-up courses of their own.

The New International Version of the Bible is quoted in the course materials. St Paul's reference to scripture being "God breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16) is referred to, although whether this view of scripture implies strict inerrancy is not made clear.

Within evangelical Protestantism the most controversial element of the Alpha Course is what is considered to be its charismatic slant. Three of the fifteen sessions are given to the person and work of the Holy Spirit and cover the infilling of the Spirit; speaking in tongues and healing via prayer. Conversion stories in the book of Acts (see 2:1ff, 9:17-19, 10:44-46, 19:1-6) are seen as normative.

Praise

The Alpha course has attracted praise as a technique for spreading an understanding of the basics of the Christian faith. Although begun in the Anglican church, it has subsequently been used by a variety of denominations and groups and is increasingly used by Roman Catholic Churches. It operates through unpressured (albeit directed) discussion in a non-threatening environment.

The Alpha course has been endorsed by a number of leaders, including many Roman Catholic cardinals, Anglican archbishops and leading figures of all the main Christian denominations. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams was an enthusiastic supporter when he was Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales and has carried on his support into his new role, opening Alpha conferences, even accepting an invitation to speak at an Alpha supper in London in 2005. He describes it as "a very special tool" and "a unique mixture of Christian content and Christian style".

Father Raniero Cantalamessa, a monk of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and Preacher to the Papal Household for Pope Benedict XVI wrote a document praising Alpha in June 2005. [http://alpha.org/runningacourse/news/cantalamessa_june2005.pdf "Faith Which Overcomes The World"] - London, Alpha Course, 27 June 2005

Other Christian leaders who have endorsed Alpha include:
*Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
*Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
*Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris
*The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
*The Most Revd Henry Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda
*Dr. Bill Hybels, founder of the Willow Creek Association
*The Revd Professor Alister McGrath of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Regent College, Vancouver
*The Revd Dr Luis Palau, international evangelist
*The Revd Ralph Moore, prolific church planter in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
*The Revd Professor J.I. Packer, Anglican theologian and evangelist
*The late Revd John Wimber of the Association of Vineyard Churches
*The Revd Dr R. T. Kendall of Westminster Chapel
*The Revd Joel Edwards of the Evangelical Alliance
*Dr Bernie L. Wade International Circle of Faith Seminary

Critics

The Alpha course has been criticized for a charismatic emphasis, and some criticswho|date=February 2008 suggest that the course is insufficiently focused on the Bible. A particular problem for non-charismatic evangelicals is what is seen as Gumbel's emphasis upon the person and work of the Holy Spirit. As a result, some churches have chosen to teach a modified version which avoids the subject of the Holy Spirit, although this is discouraged in Gumbel's book "How to Run the Alpha Course".

Another source of intra-Christian criticism is Nicky Gumbel's suggestion in his other book "Searching Issues" that evolution may not be incompatible with Genesis, and that the earth may not have been created in six 24-hour days. "Searching Issues" also contains a chapter criticizing homosexual practice. The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association has produced an [http://www.galha.org/briefing/alpha.html Alpha Briefing] in response.

Some aspects of the doctrinal position promoted (see "Doctrine" heading above), most notably that regarding homosexuality, are controversial within the Anglican Communion, as well as in the wider church.

More conservative critics (especially from a Reformed and Evangelical perspective) have complained that the course does not adequately define sin and therefore does not properly explain the reason for Jesus' death and resurrection. The alternative Christianity Explored course is an attempt to go beyond what the Alpha Course teaches on sin.

Michael Marsden, in the [http://newhumanist.org.uk/1000 New Humanist magazine] , has argued that the Alpha course works by appealing to vulnerable and emotionally weak members of society with a community of friends.

The Revd Dr John Vincent of the Urban Theology Unit in Sheffield has suggested that Alpha presents too narrow a version of Christianity, and one too centred on what theologians have said about Jesus, rather than allowing students the freedom to draw their own inspiration from studying Jesus' life and teaching. "The Alpha course, because of its didactic style, its narrow mindedness and its closed nature, doesn't facilitate alternative views," he says. "I happen to believe it therefore leads people into a self-centred religion which is not the same as the genuine Christian discipleship". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460552.stm]

See also

*Christianity Explored
*Campus Crusade for Christ
*Cursillo
*List of Christian denominations
*Youth for Christ

Books

* Andrew Brookes (Editor), "The Alpha Phenomenon" (Churches Together in Britain and Ireland [http://www.ctbi.org.uk/253/] , 2007). ISBN 978-0-85169-331-6

External links

Alpha courses

* [http://alpha.org The Alpha Course]
* [http://www.alphacanada.org Alpha Canada]
* [http://www.alphausa.org Alpha USA]
* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3582267845277891274&q=nicky+gumbel Nicky Gumbel speaking at the Alpha Course:]

* [http://www.barnabascommunitychurch.com/alphacourseshrewsburyhol.htm An audio file of an English woman who attended an Alpha Course in 2007]

Related and alternative courses

* Related courses developed at Holy Trinity Brompton Church include;
** [http://themarriagecourse.org Marriage Course]
** [http://themarriagecourse.org/preparation/ Marriage Preparation Course]

* [http://www.christianityexplored.com/ Christianity Explored] - based on the Gospel of Mark
* [http://www.introducinggod.org/ Introducing God] - originating in Sydney, based on the popular 'Two Ways to Live' outline
* [http://livingthequestions.com/text_home.php Living the Questions] - "A Progressive Christian Alternative" to the Alpha Course