Good Lord!! Can this be true?

[suityou01]

I never met anyone who made animal noises (in a spiritual context).

I can't remember precisely what Alpha teaches on speaking in tongues but the New Testament is pretty clear that Christianity involves a lot of supernatural stuff, which doesn't really tie in with "be nice to people" CofE.

SY01, if you've a real story to share please do, I have experienced this from both sides but now it's like a parent trying to relate to teenagers.

SB, don't you have better things to do than start wind-up threads? Have you been hurt by those professing faith in the past, that causes you to keep goading me?

Sure. My memory is pretty sketchy, but in my "stint" as a Christian in an evangelical, "school hall" church I recall significant influence from the "pentecostal" movement. Very American, very intense, very difficult to digest.

I recall people:

Being slaine in the spirit
Speaking in tongues
Folks barking like dogs

Horse for courses, and speaking as the horse I needed a different course. Still looking though, been about 15 years

[AtW]

Still looking though, been about 15 years

At least now you are among friends!


woof woof.

[suityou01]

At least now you are among friends!


woof woof.

[d000hg]

goating
P.S. As in "goat" the animal ...

I can't believe you felt the need to explain that joke.

Indeed. But it always gets called brainwashing if Scientology does it.

Actually that Alpha course sounds like more fun than I thought.

You are equally at liberty to call it brainwashing if it means people actually realise Christianity is quite extreme. Of course I claim it's real in one case and cultish rubbish in another, but that's my viewpoint. Apathy is worse than persecution in many ways.

The thing with Alpha though is it exists only as a forum to get people talking. There shouldn't be pressure to convert, just watching a video on "what we think" and then chatting without the Christians telling people what the right answers are, but facilitating discussions. No question, they want people to "see the truth" but it is focused on letting people draw their conclusions, on the basis that "the truth" doesn't need us to trick people.

Sure. My memory is pretty sketchy, but in my "stint" as a Christian in an evangelical, "school hall" church I recall significant influence from the "pentecostal" movement. Very American, very intense, very difficult to digest.

I recall people:

Being slaine in the spirit
Speaking in tongues
Folks barking like dogs

Horse for courses, and speaking as the horse I needed a different course. Still looking though, been about 15 years

Pentecostal is a reasonable background to think about Alpha, however generally a more restrained English version. Technically, "Charismatic" is the term we use although I don't know what Alpha identifies itself as.

Tongues and falling over (like on the God Channel only less cheesy) are relevant although different churches no doubt come at it from different angles. Also, spontaneous healings, etc. Basically, stuff from the book of Acts... which is short and action-packed as a story if you can get away from the fact "it's the bible".

[shaunbhoy]

At least now you are among friends!


woof woof.

Ah..........the old ones are the best.................as Harold Shipman used to say!

[SupremeSpod]

Only a few do the "Alpha Course" but you can bet your bottom dollar that we're all going to do the "Omega" one...

[kandr]

Only a few do the "Alpha Course" but you can bet your bottom dollar that we're all going to do the "Omega" one...

Or more likely God doesn't exist, we are alone in the universe when we die theres nothing. Which sounds like my current role.

[TimberWolf]

Or more likely God doesn't exist, we are alone in the universe when we die theres nothing. Which sounds like my current role.

What do you mean by God, exist, alone, die, universe, nothing? 42.

[EternalOptimist]

oinking, for crying out loud. I wonder if Jesus ever oinked ?

its just some old sow trotting out porkies if you want my pun, I mean opinion

[EternalOptimist]

Or more likely God doesn't exist, we are alone in the universe when we die theres nothing. Which sounds like my current role.

I thought you would have learned by now, dont leave it too late, get yourself covered