Alpha course - Revision history

Kathleen.wright5: Category:Christian education

2009-11-28T13:54:51Z

Category:Christian education

MatthewClarke: rv vandalism; back to Revision as of 14:48, November 6, 2008 by Kathleen.wright5

2009-11-17T20:47:02Z

rv vandalism; back to Revision as of 14:48, November 6, 2008 by Kathleen.wright5

Kathleen.wright5: Undo revision 665516 by Pope Urban VI (Talk)

2009-06-30T14:19:11Z

Undo revision 665516 by Pope Urban VI (Talk)

Pope Urban VI: reverting vandalism

2009-05-21T21:45:51Z

reverting vandalism

Bob Larson: with love from ebaums

2009-05-21T21:45:49Z

with love from ebaums

Pope Urban VI: reverting vandalism

2009-05-21T20:12:13Z

reverting vandalism

Bob Larson: with love from ebaums

2009-05-21T20:12:10Z

with love from ebaums

Kathleen.wright5: Category:Christian television

2008-11-06T20:48:04Z

Category:Christian television

Graham grove at 18:26, 8 August 2008

2008-08-08T18:26:36Z

Graham grove at 01:48, 29 June 2007

2007-06-29T01:48:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 28 November 2009
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	{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]		{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]
	[[Category:Christian television]]		[[Category:Christian television]]
		+	[[Category:Christian education]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:47, 17 November 2009
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		+	{{Infobox_Contents \|
		+	topic_name = The Alpha Course \|
		+	subtopics = [[Nicky Gumbel]]
		+	* [[Evangelism]] \|
		+	opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} \|
		+	}}

−	~~WITH LOVC FROM CBAUMS~~	+	The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the Christian faith. Since its development in the 1970's and it has spread all over the world and is currently run in 143 countries by many different denominations. The course was developed by the [[Holy Trinity Brompton Anglican Church]] in [[London]]. In 1990 [[Nicky Gumbel]] took on the running of the alpha course.
		+
		+	=== Structure ===
		+
		+	The Alpha course is organized as a series of sessions over ten weeks, starting with some food, a talk (often a video of one by Nicky Gumbel), and discussion in small groups. The aim is for the talks to cover the basic beliefs of Christianity. The complete list of talk titles is:
		+
		+	* 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 Do 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 Spirit?
		+	* How Can I Resist Evil?
		+	* Why and How Should We Tell Others?
		+	* Does God Heal Today?
		+	* What About the Church?
		+	* How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?
		+
		+	The content frequently refers to [[C.S. Lewis]], and [[John Stott]]. The course typically also includes a weekend away which includes the sessions on the person and work of the [[Holy Spirit]].
		+
		+	Courses are offered free of charge.
		+
		+	Alpha courses frequently use Contemporary Christian Music.
		+
		+	===History===
		+
		+	Alpha began at Holy Trinity Brompton Church, a [[Church of England]] church in London, England. 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. Nicky Gumbel, a curate (assistant minister) at Holy Trinity took over the running of the course and he has overseen its expansion.
		+
		+	In 2004, over 25,000 courses are offered in more than 143 countries, and in many Christian denominations.
		+
		+	Alpha organizations hold national initiatives, often purchasing advertising in many media.
		+
		+	===Praise===
		+
		+	The Alpha course has attracted much praise as a technique for spreading the basics of the Christian faith. Although begun in the Anglican church, its subsequent use by a wide variety of denominations and groups indicate its success in capturing the essence of the faith. Its emphasis on unpressurised discussion makes for a non-threatening environment.
		+
		+	The alpha course has been endorsed by figures including the [[Pope]] and the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] as well as church leaders from all major denominations around the world.
		+
		+	===Critics===
		+
		+	The Alpha course has been criticised for a [[charismatic]] emphasis. Some churches have chosen to teach a modified version which avoids the emphasis on the [[Holy Spirit]].
		+
		+	Some churches have found that the expectations of Alpha graduates caused friction with more established members of the congregation.
		+
		+	More conservative critics (especially from a Reformed and Evangelical perspective) have complained that the course does not adequately define [[sin]] and therefore does not adequately explain the reason for Jesus' death and resurrection. The [[Christianity Explored]] course is an attempt to remedy this.
		+
		+	The alpha course chooses to avoid any mention of divisive issues such as homosexuality but has still been criticised as coming from a tradition that sees homosexuality as a sin.
		+
		+	===Related courses===
		+
		+	Special versions of the Alpha course tailored for specific demographics exist, including:
		+	*Alpha for Students
		+	*Alpha for Prisons
		+	*Youth Alpha
		+	*Alpha for Forces
		+	*Senior Alpha
		+	*Alpha in the Workplace
		+
		+	Related courses developed at Holy Trinity Brompton include
		+	* Marriage Course
		+	* Marriage Preparation Course
		+
		+	==Quotes==
		+
		+	==Links==
		+	* [http://alphacourse.org The Alpha Course]
		+	* [http://www.alphacanada.org Alpha Canada]
		+	* [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/a09.html Apologetics Index Critique]
		+	* ''Catch me if you can'', an account of an Alpha course by Jon Ronson in ''The Guardian'':
		+	** [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4078844,00.html Part 1]
		+	** [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,385173,00.html Part 2]
		+
		+	{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]
		+	[[Category:Christian television]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:19, 30 June 2009
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−		+	WITH LOVC FROM CBAUMS
−
−
−	WITH LOVC FROM ~~CMAUMS~~

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:45, 21 May 2009
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−	WITH LOVC FROM ~~CBAUMS~~	+
		+
		+	WITH LOVC FROM CMAUMS

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:45, 21 May 2009
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−	~~WITH LOVE~~ FROM ~~EBAUMS~~	+
		+
		+	WITH LOVC FROM CBAUMS

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 21 May 2009
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−	~~LOL INTERNET~~	+	WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:48, 6 November 2008
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	{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]		{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]
		+	[[Category:Christian television]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-__NOTOC__
+{{Infobox_Contents |
-==Synopsis==
+topic_name = The Alpha Course |
+subtopics = [[Nicky Gumbel]]
-The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the [[Christian]] faith. Since its development in the 1970's and it has spread all over the world and is currently run in 143 countries by many different denominations.
+* [[Evangelism]] |
+opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |
-==Contents==
+}}
 The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the Christian faith. Since its development in the 1970's and it has spread all over the world and is currently run in 143 countries by many different denominations. The course was developed by the [[Holy Trinity Brompton Anglican Church]] in [[London]]. In 1990 [[Nicky Gumbel]] took on the running of the alpha course.
@@ Line 80: / Line 71: @@
 * Marriage Course
 * Marriage Preparation Course
 ==Links==
@@ Line 89: / Line 82: @@
 ** [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,385173,00.html Part 2]
-{{returnto}} [[Christian television]] | [[Evangelism]]
+{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christian television]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{summary | text=The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the [[Christian]] faith. Since its development in the 1970's and it has spread all over the world and is currently run in 143 countries by many different denominations.}}
+__NOTOC__
-{{overview}}
+The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the [[Christian]] faith. Since its development in the 1970's and it has spread all over the world and is currently run in 143 countries by many different denominations.
 {{topics}}
@@ Line 10: / Line 13: @@
 {{quotes}}
-{{links}}
+==Main article==
-* [http://alphacourse.org/ Alpha Course official site - alphacourse.org]
 {{returnto}} [[Christian television]] | [[Evangelism]]