A friend of mine has joined and i am worried about him. I am sure he is 'pledging' money to them each month and being brain washed.....
2006-09-16 01:14:25 · 5 answers · asked by Home Cinema Pro 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no, it a christian programme run specifically for newly converted christian. fairly intense & require fair amount of commitment. obviously if u r not a christian, u should notice changes in your friend that could be unnerving.
2006-09-16 01:36:05 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, the Alpha Course is not a cult. Good for you for asking.
If you are a Christian do not worry about him - afterall worrying won't help him and it will hurt you.
Alpha itself does not ask for money however the particular church where it meets may have a charge for the use of the facilities and the booklet. If the dinners are catered there will be a charge for meals. There is a charge for the Retreat but that cost is comparable to a night at a hotel.
I first attended an Alpha course at a liberal church I used to belong to. Unfortunately it was run by the minister, not volunteers and we didn't do the dinners, only dessert. It was an informative course, but the minister pared the course down, eliminated the Retreat and when the course was done I wanted more.
I later took the course at a different church of the same denomination. What a big difference. There were more people. It was run by volunteers in that church and we did the dinners. It was such a wonderful experience in so many ways that I volunteered as a co-leader for 2 additional sessions and I transfered my membership to that church.
One friend who took the course with me - a Jew who became an atheist who became a born-again Christian - did raise 1 objection to 1 particular comment Nicky Gumbel made in praise of 1 pope regarding something he did during the holocaust. However he didn't object to the course over all. In fact my friend keeps searching out churches that offer Alpha so he can do it again.
You might be "sure he is 'pledging' money" but that doesn't make you right. I have learned it isn't ever a good idea to assume.
The Alpha Course, run as it should be run, caused me to decide to leave the liberal denomination I belonged to most of my life. I now attend a Bible-believing church. I was thrilled recently when I heard the pastor's wife talking about possibly running an Alpha Course. I am ready to volunteer as a helper.
If you see changes in your friend, offer to take the course with him the next time it is given. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.
Since you have received answers varying from it is a cult to no it isn't a cult, maybe a better source for answers about cults in the future would be books like Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin or False Doctrines Answered from the Scriptures by John R. Rice.
God bless both you and your friend!
2006-09-16 02:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not if it's run by a good church, as I'm sure most of them are. I am not a cultist, just a Christian, and I've helped on 2 alpha courses. Make sure your friend is giving money because it's on his heart to do so, which is not wrong, rather than because the people on the course have told him he'll go to hell if he doesn't (he won't). The Alpha course is really only an introduction to Christianity for those seeking to know more, although a great many people become Christians on these courses. The fact that also many who do the course do not become Christians indicates that there is no brain-washing, just a choice of your own making. This is the alpha course website so you can check it out and feel a bit more at peace.
2006-09-16 01:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by good tree 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I looked up Alpha Courses website They say this:
The Alpha Course consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith.
Supper There is a light meal together at the beginning of each session which gives people a chance to get to know each other.
Talk After each talk we divide into small groups to discuss the topic of the evening, ask questions and express opinions.
Coffee & Small groups Listen, learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile.Alpha is for everyone, especially:
Those wanting to investigate Christianity
New Christians
Newcomers to the church
Those who want to brush up on the basics
Alpha runs in every type of church, including:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Salvation Army, Free Church, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God and House Churches
All the churches provide the same material, making alterations only to suit local culture
Alpha is run in different contexts:
Alpha for Prisons
Alpha for Students
Youth Alpha
Alpha for Forces
Alpha for Catholics
While this comes across as a soft-sell, I have no idea what happens once you get there. Perhaps some one who tried it should evaluate it.
2006-09-16 01:26:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Alpha Course doesn't take money or pledges. It's only a six or eight week course. Nicky Gumble is hilarious. Perhaps your friend is just trying to become more enlightenend and is having a good time learning about God. Sorry that you're missing out.
2006-09-16 01:26:10 · answer #5 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith. It is very important that we recognize cults and avoid any involvement with them. Cults often teach some Christian truth mixed with error, which may be difficult to detect. There are some features common to most cults:
They do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. They add their "special revelations" to the Bible as equally authoritative.
They do not accept that our relationship to Jesus Christ is a reality "by grace through faith" alone, but practice instead a salvation by works.
They do not give Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, full recognition as the second Person of the Trinity, composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Some of these groups are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, Scientologists, and others.
2006-09-16 01:59:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It seems "Alpha" is a basic or core group of studies. Has the appearance of having been produced by an English group or groups. But I've known it to be used by a wide range of denominations, so I expect it depends on the denomination or individual group as to just how it is used. I think the Alpha Course itself basically is a discussion starter.
Likewise, the "pledging money" probably is totally up to the group presenting it; likely the producers of "Alpha" only get payment for the materials use.
As for being "brain-washed", many people need their brains washed. Seriously, though, again I think whether your friend is being brain-washed or not would depend on the specific group he is attending. Maybe he is just starting to think for himself.
2006-09-16 01:23:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
God is the Alpha and Omega (everything) - to only teach people half the truth is wrong - it is a cult, but then again, which religion isn't...
2006-09-16 02:41:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
According to Etymology, the word religion and the word cult are synonyms.
2006-09-16 01:21:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
what is the alpha course?
2006-09-16 01:20:13 · answer #10 · answered by antagonist 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋