In his post titled "Church and Education" Pluralist Speaks writes:
So much that passes for church learning I must criticise. Alpha, for example, is the McDonaldisation of church learning: bite size ready answers for whatever questions may arise. It is a recruiting method (or a recycling method, really). It is marketed and carries power connotations: power and influence for Holy Trinity Brompton, power and influence for generally one kind of Christianity delivered with a copyright notice. It's capitalism in religion. It is also lazy teaching and learning, a sort of unwrapped national curriculum of sectional Christianity.Very well spoken. It's surely an apt description of my experience of Alpha, although I could not have put it so well. I disliked the course rather intensely.
Read the rest of Pluralist's post. He describes his model of what church education should be. I find little there with which to disagree.
That's Pluralist's self-portrait up there.
There is experience of its recycling in this locality, and eventually the repeat performances fell away. I've described such from second hand accounts, and seeing a tedious TV series about it, and from this I have a different model of education.
ReplyDeleteFor the benefit of us non-churchies, what is Alpha?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds suspiciously like something on the idea of forty questions you never thought to ask answered by forty answers you never needed.
Kishnevi, the course comes out of Holy Trinity Brompton in London. Here's the link for you to explore.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a four part review of the series, and, if you'd like, I'll link to them. Let me know.
I have steered clear of Alpha. A recent comment made by a parishioner whose friend went along to a course was, "She asked a question and was told - We don't ask those sort of things. We just have to believe what we're told."
ReplyDeleteIt's simplistic indoctrination, and whilst it may well suit some, it won't do for anyone who questions (either intermittently or continually) their faith and beliefs.
SR, you're wise. Some in our group liked Alpha, and I toned down my critiques, because I wrote them while the classes were still going on, and I did not want to spoil them for the others.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I said recently in the comments to another blog, which is more representative of my view:
I must tell you that I hated their Alpha course. It was such a slick production that it put me off from the beginning. Every member of the congregation who was filmed appeared entirely rapt and adoring, hanging on Nicky Gumble's every word. If anyone looked bored or fidgety, I suppose they didn't make the cut.
In our adult class at church, we watched the Alpha series of DVDs during Lent one year. After we were led in the prayer for Jesus to come into our hearts for the third time, during the third class, I couldn't help myself from saying after the prayer, "Is the third time the charm? Is Jesus in my heart now?" Others in the class were a bit taken aback, but what's the point of saying the prayer over and over? I stuck it out for the whole series, but it was hard.
I don't like Alpha either.
ReplyDeleteBut the kind of ind-depth teaching you and Pluralist (and I!) are interested in is for those who want to deepen their faith and their understanding.
Alpha is designed as an introduction to Christianity for those who have never really heard much about it other than the Christmas story, Easter and who have a faint recollection of one or two bible stories.
I think there are better courses, Emmaeus being one of them. Yet, Alpha does deliver a comprehensive introduction to Christianity.
Although, I agree with you all, it's too prescriptive.
Is it too slick? HTB is in one of the poshest areas of London and the course did reach out to the slick city types who are not normally attracted by our grotty village halls and dowdy presentations.
We do have something to learn there.
Erika, if Jesus were to land in England today, I don't think he'd make a beeline for the poshest areas of London. Those from the poshest areas would have to follow him to the homeless shelters to hear his message.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you have to see it, but I was so distracted by the slickness of the production and the posh look of the people and the place that I could hardly hear the message. But that's me. Others in the class liked it.
I agree that it's very basic and simplistic and that it's directed to folks with very little knowledge of Christianity. There should be a warning.
They didn't actually do altar calls, but in each class, there was a moment that felt like a virtual altar call.
I've never been to an Alpha Course. In the places I have been it's seemed that it was mostly conservative, evangelical-leaning parishes that had them. I'm not sure I understand the objection to the repetition of the prayer. I would think that most Christians pray daily that Jesus would "enter into our hearts," although maybe if I saw the text of this one I would agree.
ReplyDeleteBillyD, I am far from an expert in all things evangelical, but I see this prayer as one of definitive commitment of one's life to Jesus, the one that if people ask you, "Are you saved?", you can answer, "Yes".
ReplyDeleteI thought that I had done that a long time ago, perhaps not in that exact manner, and while I believe that following the way of the Gospel requires ongoing recommitment of one's life, I don't see the usefulness of praying time after time for Jesus to come into my heart. He's there already. All I have to do is to turn to him.
In the places I have been it's seemed that it was mostly conservative, evangelical-leaning parishes that had them.
That's true. And perhaps it would be useful for an inquirers class for folks who have little to no knowledge of Christianity, although it would still not be my first choice for that purpose.
Mimi
ReplyDeleteI saw the videos many years ago when we were evaluating the course for our church.
I didn't like it, but I did identify. Not that I'm posh or live in a posh place, but I'm posher than 90+% of humanity and more so than many in my country. I didn't truly "get" the full message of Jesus until I had caught initial fire.
And so I don't have a problem with talking to everyone in the language they might hear.
Jesus dined in the houses of the well-off too and spoke to them.
Also, the rich are just as trapped in teh proverty of fale values, loneliness and depression as the poor are trapped in physical poverty.
ReplyDeleteUnless you heal the individual first they cannot truly sense other's plight and reach out to anyone else.
Erika, you're right. Jesus' message is for everyone
ReplyDeletePerhaps my aversion to Alpha is unfair, because it's too personal to be of service to anyone else, but Pluralist's words certainly resonated. You can ask questions, but there's a pat answer for every question. I'd walk away from each session angry.
It seems to me that the materials were quite pricey, which is another minus.
Mimi
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about Alpha. I absolutely detest it, detest the certainties it proclaims.
When I first saw it I was happily married and not personally affected by the gay debate.
But I remember that one of the remarks that really grated as dishonest clap-trap was the answer to the question about homosexuality: "Well, of course I have gay friends and if it were up to me I'd include them, but God says we cannot and God overrules everything".... or some such nonsense.
I do wish, though, that there was an equally modern outreach system that was less fundagelically biased and simplistic.
Erika, that's great. The "Some of my best friends are...." defense. I go on record here and now with my "Some of my best friends are evangelicals," defense, so no criticism from that end, please.
ReplyDeleteI agree. We should have a better alternative to offer than Alpha.