Showing My Prejudices

[poliphilo]

The trees along King's Rd are turning. Some are now bright yellow all over, others have patches of red. Those that are not yet rusting look sorry for themselves.

I sit in the waiting room at the health centre while Ailz goes through diabetic clinic. First I read the publicity pamphlet for the Alpha course, which aims to turn turn run-of-the-mill people into happy, shiny Christians. It carries endorsements from Cliff Richard and Old Beardie the archbishop of Canterbury and some smooth chopped catholic and- oh my God- Hercule Poirot. Yes, folks, Hercule Poirot- I mean actor David Suchet- has had his life turned round by Alpha and has celebrated by shaving off the moustache.

I scan the pictures of happy shiny faces (so many, I had not thought death had undone so many) in search of black ones. On the second run-through I find my first example- miniscule- and then another- so tiny you almost need a magnifying glass.

Then I read Emmel- the glossy "magazine of Muslim lifestyle". After the white-bread wilderness of Alpha it is nice and warming to look at pictures of people with a bit of colour in their cheeks. Emmel is liberal. It has pieces about criticising Islam and how good it would be to have female Imams. I'm thinking of taking out a subscription.

Seriously.

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

David Suchet doesn't have a moustache *in real life* I saw him in a play and he looks so totally different than he does as Hercule. (but still that beautiful smile. He has the most beautiful smile...)

I do love your comments. A lot of people are posting about beliefs and spirituality and that kind of thing. Some of us are still drifting about, trying to find the hidden path.

Emmel sounds *interesting*

[jenny_evergreen]

*sighs over David Suchet*

The fall weather is taking its time arriving here, about which I am unhappy, since it's my favorite season.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you simply came across rather limited examples for either religion. http://alphacourse.org/ lists a string of worldwide sites, but all of them decidedly European or Asian (the two possible exceptions, South Africa and India, are arguably on the border). Odd, since the greatest growth for the Christian faith is currently occuring in Latin America and Africa. As for the other, based on the female imam commentary alone I would argue that Emmel's perspective is rather fringe for mainstream Muslims, much as those Christians who argue for female priests or gay marriage are for middle of the road Christians. But in either case I wouldn't take these publications to be a comprehensive representative of the faith.

Damn, that's twice in as many days you got me rambling on about religion!

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

When Kate was a toddler, my husband toyed with the Theosophical Society. Because Kate would get restless at their little meetings, I mostly took her outside and walked her around the parklike lawn near the old house where the meetings were held.

After the talks, the group would gather at the back of the room where Oz books were sold for $1.50 and slippery elm bark was sold for coughs.

Then there would be a pot-luck supper using unfluoridated water. Most everyone wore sandals.

Except that there was no singing, I thought it was a fine fun group, and they were very kind to Kate.

I didn't learn a thing about their beliefs, but I bought Kate every Oz book--one a meeting.

--I've not heard about the Alpha course, but I don't want to be shiny and happy.

I know how that's done: brainwashing.

Remember the Moonies? They kept their converts up until two in the morning, then gave them hot chocolate and brownies to keep them jacked up and restless on caffeine. Then they'd start their meetings...

Alpha

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

In Moscow on the way to something else we stopped
at a Pentecostal church as I thought to meet with
the ministers there,it is a dynamic church of
900 members and it is a spirituality I fit with
pretty well...but it seemed there was some crossed
wires and it was an alpha course girl from Britain
who wanted to meet with us before running their
program in the evening there. I did not care for
her manner, and told her that I did not think that
in Russia the alpha course was the answer to the
renewal of our church although it might be useful in
this or that context, perhaps for a priest working
mostly with outsiders for example...but that for
better or worse it seemed to me that the renewal of
our tradition had to start from within the vocabulary
and problematics of that tradition and then move
onwards as it were...
I am not putting this very well and it is not becoming
much of an anecdote...indeed it is not becoming an
anecdote at all.
I think alpha is what is called pre-catachesis...
I surmise from this young lady that some of em at least are
very sold on their thing as being the sovereign way to do
things.
anyhow that, granted a slightly different take, is my take
on it...
+Seraphim.