Editing Alpha course (section)

== Criticism==
Alpha been criticised for having a [[charismatic movement|charismatic]] emphasis, with some non-charismatic evangelicals criticising Gumbel's emphasis upon the person and work of the [[Holy Spirit]] in particular.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watling |first=Tony |date=January 2005 |title='Experiencing' Alpha: Finding and Embodying the Spirit and Being Transformed--Empowerment and Control in a ('Charismatic') Christian Worldview |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248981640 |access-date=27 May 2020 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

More conservative critics (especially from a [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] and [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] perspective) have complained that the course does not adequately define [[sin]], and therefore does not properly explain the reason for Jesus's death and resurrection.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hunt |first=Stephen |year=2005 |title=The Alpha Course and Its Critics: An Overview of the Debates |url=https://www.glopent.net/pentecostudies/online-back-issues/online-back-issues#2005-volume-4 |journal=PentecoStudies |volume=4 |access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref> The alternative [[Christianity Explored]] course is an attempt to go beyond what Alpha teaches on sin.

John Vincent of the Urban Theology Unit in Sheffield has suggested that Alpha presents too narrow a version of Christianity and one too centred on what theologians have said about Jesus, rather than allowing students the freedom to draw their own inspiration from studying Jesus' life and teaching. "The Alpha course, because of its [[didactic]] style, its narrow-mindedness and its closed nature, doesn't facilitate alternative views", he says. "I happen to believe it therefore leads people into a self-centred religion which is not the same as the genuine Christian [[discipleship]]."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pigott |first=Robert |date=27 July 2001 |title=Church leaders launch controversial courses |work=BBC.com |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460552.stm |url-status=live |access-date=17 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021218000833/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1460552.stm |archive-date=18 December 2002}}</ref>

Some Catholics have criticised the fifteen-session ''Alpha in a Catholic Context'' version of the course for being unbalanced without sufficiently presenting some Roman Catholic doctrines, which instead need to be added afterwards in additional sessions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cork |first=William |year=2007 |title=The Alpha Course—an Evaluation |work=CatholicCulture.org |publisher=Trinity Communications |url=http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7562&CFID=55852985&CFTOKEN=90894664 |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901223533/http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7562&CFID=55852985&CFTOKEN=90894664 |archive-date=1 September 2012}}</ref>