Alpha Male

Another month, another full pub. I’ve given up counting numbers now – suffice to say, it was packed out – standing room only. This large and loud crowd had come along to listen to Simon Clare’s (@faithlesseye) thoughts on The Alpha Course and what it can teach the Atheist & Humanist ‘community’ about effective outreach.

A god of some sort was clearly worried about what he might have to say as various traffic jams and delays were slung in Simon’s path but he managed to make it even if he was a few minutes late.  But if you’re going to have to wait a bit then where better than a pub?

Simon started by taken us through a few Alpha Course stats;

• Set up in 1977
• 66,000 courses in 162 countries
• 75% of attendees in 18-35 age group
• Available in 85% of prisons
• Big growth in India – 2007: 100 courses  2012: 20,000 courses

The Alpha Course owes its recent expansion to Nicky Gumbel (left), Vicar of the Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) Church who took the original Alpha Course materials and reshaped them into the highly successful project it currently is. Which. I suppose makes him the ‘Alpha Papa’.  Rev. Gumbel is a very well connected Eton educated ex-Barrister who, it is claimed, had a role in ensuring that the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was ordained into the clergy in the first place. According to Simon, the Alpha Course is “a central part of the Church of England’s struggle to survive.”

Simon found his local Alpha Course leaders friendly and approachable, unlike many of the Humanist groups he’s attended, with food offered, nice lighting and a general air of relaxed inclusion. At the start, at least.  As the course went on Simon was concerned that none of his well thought out questions were answered and became aware that this wasn’t really the point of the course. Despite the fact that Alpha Course adverts often attract punters by offering answers to life’s big questions.  He was also concerned that some of the material was just not being truthful such as a video (see below) about the high-wire walker Blondin taking his Mother across Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow. In reality, this never happened as she had died many years before.

Simon attended a ‘Holy Spirit Weekend’ where people were subtly urged to let themselves be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. Simon showed us the script for this particular part of the course. These clearly showed that if the course leaders didn’t have an example of speaking in tongues to call upon they could use the one in the script but pretend it was their own personal experience.

Despite all this, Simon thinks he’s a better person for taking the course as he learnt things and met nice people.  He also came thinking that the Alpha Course approach could work for the Atheist/Humanist community.  Simon thinks that this those of us who consider ourselves part of such a community should be friendlier, more welcoming and stop finding excuses for not doing things rather than reasons for actively reaching out to those who might have no understanding of what Humanism really is.  

Simon himself has given Atheist street preaching a go and is involved in the Brighton branch of The Sunday Assembly. He’s also helping to write a course on Humanism that is less academically based and more rooted in the everyday than much Humanist material usually is.

There was plenty of interaction from the audience throughout the talk. It was great to see some Christians pointing out where they thought Simon was mistaken and explaining how they had taken the Alpha Course material and reshaped it themselves to better suit their approach.  Plenty of robust conversation, laughter and applause.  Simon has a great, relaxed speaking style which puts the audience at ease but also maintains their interest. Highly recommended to other Skeptics groups.

NEXT MONTH: We welcome Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, the campaign for a democratic alternative to the Monarchy.  He’ll be talking to us about the power and secrecy of the monarchy and what can be done about it.  It’s bound to be another well attended event so if you want to seat then best get there for 7pm. Full details HERE.