Strutting & Fretting

This advert has been running on British TV the last few days advertising this autumn's term of the Alpha Course - the church's series of introductory seminars on Christianity¹.

It's a neat commercial and I laughed the first time I watched it. I love the style of the animation and on my first viewing - not knowing what it was actually about - I was surprised and delighted by the reveal. It wasn't just another bank commercial with that annoying Howard bloke about to leap out and start singing at any moment.

But having seen the advert a few times there was something that started to nag me about it, something that didn't quite sit well with me. And it essentially comes down to that last line "is there more to life than this?"

Now that implies that the life set out in the commercial is unsatisfactory. But just look what it featured - finding your soulmate, getting married, raising some kids together and being with each other until old age.

That's one heck of a great life if you ask me. Yet we're supposed to think, "crikey yes, what a terrible mundane existence that is, I really think there should be more to life."

If I, as a Christian, think that, then I'm not entirely convinced the advert, clever though it is, is going to strike the right chord with people. If you told me that all my life is and ever will be is getting married to RJ, raising our little son and daughter together and finally dying after growing old together - I'd say "wow thank you, that's one wonderful life right there."

That's all life is? Sounds like the existence equivalent of winning the national lottery to me. Perfect.

Of course, not everyone gets a life like that. Not everyone really wants a life like that. But offering an example of what is essentially a perfect happy life for many of us and expecting us to say "that looks awful, there's got to be more to life than this - like an almighty creator or something" is being a bit naive I think.

You can't expect to win friends by telling people their happy perfect life with their beloved one and children is actually shit and doesn't mean anything.

And that's a real shame because the Alpha Course is a fascinating look at Christianity, and is worth taking a look at even if you've no intention of becoming a Christian.

So if you've an Alpha Course starting at a nearby church give it a go, you'll probably even get a free meal into the bargain if you are lucky. The TV advert may be quite misjudged, but the course is better - in the right church. Seriously do look into it and consider going along.

Though I have to add one caveat. I'm completely against the Alpha Course in this particular parish and hope no-one at all signs up. This is on the general principle of anything that robs me of RJ for an evening isn't a good thing.

And if you think about it, having your loved one taken away for yet another evening a week is actually a literal example of what I didn't like about the attitude of the advert!

So please no-one one turn up tonight², I'll get my girlfriend back early and considering how unwell I am today that would be fab. I'm feeling crap, which means I can say what I want, so I say I'm more important than some church meeting³. Thanks!

Anyway here's a link to the official Alpha Course UK website (open in a new tab/window). Go take a look, but just not at my local church, okay?

<sub>¹The course is actually advertised as "exploring the meaning of life". They don't say, "please come along and let us tell you about Jesus" as it might scare you off. The advertising doesn't mention Jesus at all. Yes I know it's a bit disingenuous of them, but give it a go.

²You heard me right, don't go. RJ's probably already got my diarrhoea and vomiting bug and will infect you with it as she's serving you your Alpha Course supper. Go along to St.J's tonight an you'll get to meet your maker even earlier than you might expect.

³This is humour by the way. Well mostly!</sub>