Has anyone been on the Alpha Course?

YES!!!! Is it a record? Mods?

No.

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John Squire 11:1-44)

just to get the numbers up…

religion is a solace to some people and I wouldn't seek to deny it them.

Hallelujah! That's why you should not ridicule believers. Question yes, ridicule no.

I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life. Call it a psychological flaw if it helps. If you don't, fine and good luck; I'm not about to try and convert you!

Over 600 posts, most of them tripe!
I used to believe in the STW hive mind, now I have doubt.
You have collectively destroyed my faith.
Is there a beta way of life?

If so, what tyres?

The old Dr Pepper ads used to use the slogan "What's the worst that could happen?"… and in the same way you could also apply this to going along to an Alpha Course. Non threatening, free meal, a chance to ask the difficult questions – if it's not for you then okay but the invitation is there all the same and it could change you life for the better.

Personally I hope and pray that many of you will go.

a Free Meal , you say?

Hmm, suddenly it's becoming tempting.

Nah. I'll pass thanks.

"What's the worst that could happen?"
-you could be wasting a few hours of your non-eternal life.

"What's the worst that could happen?"… and in the same way you could also apply this to going along to an Alpha Course.

What's the worst that could happen?
You could waste ten evenings of your life with a load of crushing bores.

Over 600 posts, most of them tripe!

It's a thread about organised religion. Every single post is tripe. Including mine. including this one.

No-one knows, simple as that, I don't know. You don't know, the god botherers don't know.

If you die and find out god was watching you all the time – Bingo, if you were good that's splendid, if you were bad then god forgives. You'll still go to heaven.

If you die and there is no god, no worries, unless of course you wasted your life worshipping god, ooops, what a cock you look now. Not that you'll know or care because there's no afterlife. Still, people who are still living would be laughing their asses off if they knew. Which they don't.

No-one does.

Jedi anyone?

No thanks, I've just put one out.

Tyger, the worst that happens is something being sold. It has a value placed on it, you are supposed to contract into buying/not buying for life. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
If I buy and then change my mind 6 months down the line because I am unhappy with the terms and conditions, who do I complain to?

@samuri 😀

samuri – according to the Bible God will forgive you anytime if you're sincere while you're alive but if you die refusing to accept God's forgiveness then you won't go to Heaven. That said, accepting God's forgiveness through Jesus' death and resurrection is much, much more than just a ticket to Heaven – it's a complete change in your life for the best.
Once again, if you raised your point at an Alpha meeting I'm sure you wouldn't be alone but there would be the chance to discuss it.

Trampus – there's no obligation just an invitation

Sorry tyger, perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

Nobody knows. Including you. I can discuss things that nobody knows about anywhere.

samuri – – well what if I were to put it this way….

if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life – however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.

But that's not the whole story because, personally, I know that having a faith has made a huge difference to my life and I know this is going to open me up to a right ol' flaming, but to have the knowledge and experience of God's love and forgiveness is breathtaking.

You have collectively destroyed my faith.

result!

but if you die refusing to accept God's forgiveness then you won't go to Heaven

that would be another result, for me at least, as heaven sounds ghastly, however I read a while back that latest Christian thought is downgrading heaven…

Every single post is tripe. Including mine. including this one.

No-one knows, simple as that, I don't know. You don't know, the god botherers don't know.

if you'll pardon me Jon, my position is that you don't need to know anyway – you might as well make the best of this life and worry about death when it happens. Any gods can have the finger as far as I'm concerned.

as heaven sounds ghastly

Mmm let me see now – eternal life or death – yep, I think I know which I'd choose and it's not death! 🙂

yep, I think I know which I'd choose and it's not death!

I'd rather be nothing than be bored. If you could meet other dead people you knew previously it might be good for a couple of weeks but then what else would there be to DO ? What interests me is creativity, challenge, achievement, argument, carnality – all missing from projections of heaven 🙁

…carnality – all missing from projections of heaven

You haven't been to Jannah mate…

I'd rather be nothing than be bored

For me, a God who created all the natural wonders we have (not to mention life itself) is very unlikely to have made Heaven boring.

I imagine it as an overlit dentists waiting room. Except you never get the fun of seeing the dentist. But in any case, if I have to do as I'm told (or actually not told) I'd rather pass on it, any god that wanted to be worshipped or obeyed would be contemptible.

This is the world's biggest monster thread, ever. I simply can not read it all, though some of it at the beginning was absolutely flinking hysterical. Can someone provide a synopsis..? 😛

Simple.

Alpha course anyone?

Don't bother, brainwashy evangelical thing.

God doesn't exist, religion is balls.
Not it isn't!
yes it is!
rinse repeat for 10+ pages with various arguments dodgy or not used on either side.
Religion doesn't concern you atheists so let it alone!
Yes it does!
rinse repeat for several pages.

You'll burn if you support the wrong sect!
Hypocrite
Oh ffs is this still going on?
Heaven rocks
Nah, its dull

Can I have a synopsis please?

There ya go

Predictably Awesome! 😆 Awesomely predictable! 😆

I LOVE STW!!

(I think we'll have to try starting a 'Padded Fred'-era thread on paedophiles or something of that ilk to somehow ever top this 😉 )

…and the outright wittiest response so far? (apart from the previous post, of course)

Answer to original question :

Alpha Course. Non threatening, free meal, a chance to ask the difficult questions – if it's not for you then okay but the invitation is there all the same and it could change you life for the better.

I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life.

😆 That's about the worst advert for religion I've ever heard, you still don't sound like you're convinced about the whole thing either.

Morning, all.

" tyger – Member

samuri – according to the Bible…"

I don't understand why you cannot see that quoting scripture at an atheist is not going to advance your cause. Your scripture is regarded as the scribblings of ignorant bronze-age tribes who didn't understand the universe around them because they hadn't yet developed their conciousness beyond worrying about eating different types of animals and thinking that earthquakes are caused by angry gods, and THESE are the sources that you think have something useful to impart?

Insanity is, as I think I already remarked, repeating the same action again and again whilst expecting a different result.

Unsubstantiated claims without foundation in verifiable evidence, as usual.

A fantasy. 🙄

'[…] if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life – however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.'

That sounds suspiciously like all non-Christians will burn in hell, even if they've lived a good life. That's a club I definitely don't want to be a member of.

I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life.

Just like 99% of people who take up religion.

1) My girlfriend left me so I took up religion
2) I have no real friends so I took up religion
3) My mum/dad died so I took up religion.
4) I lost my job and am broke so I took up religion
5) I'm an ex drug addict so I took up religion

And like you most will not admit why they took up religion but just say there was a very good reason.

If it gives you the strength to cope then crack on, but at least be honest about it.

if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life – however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.

As I've pointed out before, the flipside is that you've been following the wrong book, and the wrong religion, and that the gods that you should have been worshipping are really pissed off with you.
Surely you realise this as an equally valid possibility?

Mr Woppit – Member

Insanity is, as I think I already remarked, repeating the same action again and again…..

An explanation of insanity and a demonstration of irony in the same sentence.

Yes. 8)

if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life – however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed
choice.

😯

Well, that takes the cake. The most hypocritical, fence sitting view of all, imo. Akin to a deathbed 'conversion'. How can you say you believe in something, then say that there's a possibility that it's not true. Anyone would think you're only in it for the afterlife benefits. mtfu, you're either in or out.

Can someone provide a synopsis..?

doesn't that rather miss the point ? It's a journey of discovery…

mtfu, you're either in or out.

😆

Brilliant. I love the idea of Jesus telling his disciples to MTFU. 24hr marathons, pah! 40 days and 40 nights is where it's at.

It's a journey of discovery…

Agreed. Well it's been a journey of discovery for me. I've discovered just how much of a hypocrite you are.

IE, after claiming not to give people's religious views any sort of special treatment, you then dedicate almost a week of your life to slagging them off.

Pretty soon we're going to need an Alpha course for this very thread…
1: Who is Ernie?
2: Why didn't Whopit die?
3: Why and how should I read the whole thread?
4: How does Tyger guide us?
5: How can I resist SFB?
6: Why and how should I warn others?
etc…

IE, after claiming not to give people's religious views any sort of special treatment, you then dedicate almost a week of your life to slagging them off.

That's only true if SFB doesn't spend a week on any other threads slagging other things off, therefore your argument is void.

I've discovered just how much of a hypocrite you are.

As opposed to you who said religion could make their own rules up and then told Loula Belle she was a hypocrit for her brand and was going to hell…we have missed your trolling /banter with Barnes ernie welcome back…dont let facts or consistency stop you now you are on a roll.

[Quote]a God who created all the natural wonders we have (not to mention life itself)[/Quote]

Presumably he also made all the bad things then as well like say earth quakes, child deaths, slow painful deaths from cancer, senile dementia, juvenile Leukaemia the child rapists, Adolf Hitler, pain suffering and death…. the list is endless is it not so why just see the good in the world he created?

if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life

There are 5 main world religions.. all of them claiming to be the one true god (or Gods in the case of Sikhism). Therefore at least 4 of them are wrong. So if (and it is a very big if) one of them is correct the probability is that you have actually worshipped the wrong God/s and I bet god is more annoyed at those who have worshipped a false god rather than those that have not worshipped any. Chances are we will meet in Hell (well not me as I have not been baptised so cannot be judged