5 weeks ago, I started Nicky Gumbel’s famous Alpha Course. The course is designed for everyone and aims to convert the atheists, persuade the agnostics and strengthen the belief of theists. The course has already reached astronomical heights having been introduced in 169 countries, speaking in 112 languages and boasts a very high conversion rate. However, I want to investigate what it has actually done for me so far.

I fall solidly into the agnostic category and I would like to say that I approached the course with a completely neutral attitude. However, since I have not been to church in years but have attended numerous science lessons, I would be forced to admit that my belief is leaning precariously towards science and atheism.

The evenings start with a warm welcome by those running the course at the Church of the Good Shepherd and after 5 minutes of polite socialising (whilst waiting for any late comers to turn up) we adjourn to the room being used as a canteen. After 20 minutes of eating, we move to our seats where the Vicar, Christopher Wheaton, talks about the wonders of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. These talks are engaging and humorous and the main thread is often interrupted by anecdotes detailing the experiences of the younger (and atheist) Vicar. However, I cannot help feeling sceptical about what is being said, and the talks often help to compound my atheistic feelings rather than exile them.

Not to worry though, the evenings are far from over by this point as there is still another hour of discussion after the talk. Being under 18, the alpha course that I am completing is actually the Youth Alpha; an extension of the original course. This means that the group sessions start with a game which leads on to the discussion. Recently, the ‘game’ was trying to wire a plug before the other groups could. This skill is no longer required in our lives and it showed as the four groups struggled through the outer shell before being stumped by the colourful wires. If it had been a computer game then I am sure that we would all have excelled. But, as with the opening talk, these games do nothing for me in terms of what the course aims at achieving.

However, the discussions which ensue the game focus more on the religious elements. Maybe it will be this part which transforms my belief as advertised. They often incorporate the bible which involves reading sections before talking about what it means in small groups. This then moves into a full group discussion where we read the parts of the bible the other groups had previously looked at. Although this is more focused on religion, it still does not cause any great change in my beliefs and I am still firmly in the dark about whether God exists or not.

However, I do also believe that this may be down to the Youth Alpha course being much less focused on the converting side of the course. If I had been taking part in the actual course, the discussions may have been more intelligent and could have affected me in the same way that it has affected others.