Ship of Fools: Horses for courses?

Thread: Horses for courses? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by MrsBeaky (# 17663) on :

Today at language school, here in Nairobi our teacher had a copy of an Alpha course manual on her desk. Alpha is definitely worldwide but I had questions about using it here without considerable revision....
Now quite a few years ago I led a series of Alpha courses. I wasn't happy with quite a lot of the content but I loved the format, when it was done with integrity: welcoming, hospitable and allowing real exploration and discussion. Enabling enquirers to explore the Christian Faith is something that really floats my boat but I have yet to find a course which in both approach and content is something which I'd be comfortable using. I've read about some courses online but I'd like to know your own experiences/ recommendations and also your opinions about the value of such courses at all!

Posted by The Midge (# 2398) on :

I read some of the online Alpha course material on their web site because our church is running a course in September. I thought it was full of fallacies: circular reasoning, straw men, false dichotomies and polemical arguments. It would be chewed to pieces in this forum- possibly followed by a Hell Call for Nicky Gumbel?

I would not be comfortable sitting through it yet alone inviting a postmodern thinking type to it. I thought about a 'Beta Course' alternative to it, but haven’t got the time or energy just now. I even thought about asking our Shipmates what they thought such a course might look like but didn’t get round to that either. I would love to hear what other think this might look like.

[Spell check doesn't catch all typos]

[ 03. June 2013, 14:41: Message edited by: The Midge ]

Posted by wishandaprayer (# 17673) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Midge:
I would love to hear what other think this might look like.

Something like this. [Big Grin]

Posted by The Midge (# 2398) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wishandaprayer:

quote:
Originally posted by The Midge:
I would love to hear what other think this might look like.
Something like this.

1998 eh? There is nothing new under the sun.

Pitty they (SofF)didn't run with it. [Big Grin]

Posted by TurquoiseTastic (# 8978) on :

There are a couple of similar-in-format alternatives I've heard of:

"Emmaus" for those who find Alpha too evangelical
"Christianity Explored" for those who find Alpha not-evangelical-enough...

Posted by The Midge (# 2398) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TurquoiseTastic:
There are a couple of similar-in-format alternatives I've heard of:

"Emmaus" for those who find Alpha too evangelical
"Christianity Explored" for those who find Alpha not-evangelical-enough...

I was thinking more on the line of cracking open a few beers and watching The Blues Brothers followed up by a discussion about being called into a mission from God.

I don't think anyone would listen if I suggested Emmaus, but might if I said that Alpha wasn't evangelical enough [Eek!]

Posted by Yonatan (# 11091) on :

I tried an Alpha Course in Dublin in the mid-90s. Lovely, caring people who ran it. However, there wasn't a sense of real exploration or question asking, and the 'proofs' of certain tenets of Christian belief left much to be desired.Jesus' deity was pretty much settled with some quotes from the Fourth Gospel with no real discussion or debate. From what I can gather, that is fairly typical.

Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :

How the "Holy Spirit Weekend" bit is handled can either make or break an Alpha Course in my limited experience. I went to one where everyone was expecting more than actually happened and the whole thing strained credulity. A friend of mine went on one that had a calmer, more meditative HSW and it did actually make him (an agnostic) think more deeply about it all.

Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :

We've done Living the Questions and a small group are studying LtQ II. Currently up to 'The Myth of Redemptive Violence'. Great for Progressive theology, maybe not for anyone who's found Alpha helpful.

In our Alpha days years ago, someone talked about the possibility of an Omega course, but I don't think it came to anything. I've heard that Emmaeus (doesn't look right?) was okay.

GG

Posted by MrsBeaky (# 17663) on :

Thanks for your responses so far, I've not had experience of some of your suggestions so food for thought.
I'm also at a place where I want something bigger/ wider/ deeper/ more mystical (can't think of the right word)than the classic evangelical approach.
I'm also thinking that perhaps the way any course is handled is just as important as the actual content itself.

Posted by Crazy Cat Lady (# 17616) on :

I wasn't inspired by it either, in fact I had some great day dreams. I thought it would be more explorative, perhaps discussing contemporary issues through a Christian perspective

Being stuffed full of food is great, but not so good for the required concentration afterwards

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