Paul Clark

Some reviews

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“This is an unusual and unusually engaging book with what I perceive as three themes. First, it is a novel whose main character is a young man struggling with guilt over an incident in which another person died. He reluctantly agrees to take part in the Alpha Course, a program of meetings with people looking to find, hold onto, or let go of Christian faith. His path is one of deep soul-searching to find the courage to accept what life offers.

“The discussions of the Alpha Course participants form the second theme of the book. The conversations are generally courteous and intelligent, as might take place in real-life groups of people exploring their faith…no one is presented as being right or wrong, no one is ridiculed as a fool or a fanatic, and there is none of the rancor that is typical of social media flame-exchanges.

“The third theme is an atheistic argument presented by one character who no longer believes and whose impressive knowledge of the Bible and the history of religion is daunting to the young man and the other members of the group. Her discourses comprise an unofficial Omega Course—the end of faith, just as the Alpha Course was intended to be the entry into faith. This last theme, which I found to be the most intellectually stimulating, is supplemented by a set of Appendices presented at the end of the novel, offering more detailed information from various real scholarly sources. For readers interested in these topics, this supplemental material will be especially valuable.”

Steven Tiger, author of Doctrine Impossible: A Journey from Dogmatic Religiosity to Rational Spirituality

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“Even though I’m Catholic, I love reading books with Christian themes even if I know that these works will address possible “historical inconsistencies” in the Bible and similar issues…

“The script is very straightforward: Ross Collins is an ordinary English boy who, after getting his driver’s license, is involved in an accident that ends up taking a woman’s life… Trying to overcome the pain and find relief for his conscience, he decides to join the Alpha Course, a Christian group that seeks to spread the message of Christ to everyone. One of the people attending this group will be Omega Bee, the theology student who is losing her faith. The most intelligent ideas in the book will emerge from the interaction with this girl, and then a parallel group that will give the book its name will be created.
“What I liked most about this work is that it presents much information in an easy-to-read and accessible way. It would be much more “boring” to study the history of the Bible academically. Putting it in a context like this makes everything more fun. Even as a Catholic, I was not dissatisfied with the book’s direction. For some people, what happens to Ross in the end may be the only way for him to find redemption…
“Overall, The Omega Course is an educational, profound, and touching book. The author created a story of overcoming adversities, which creates a favorable scenario for people to learn more about the history of religion in a playful way without that academic tone… I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
“I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in exploring the history of the Bible. While the central theme is Christian, the author has skillfully avoided an overly religious narrative. Instead, he introduces characters from diverse backgrounds, each offering their unique perspectives and shedding light on historical inconsistencies. The book ultimately adopts a humanistic tone, fostering respect for all religions. It is a book for everyone, not just Christians. However, it’s important to note that the book does contain some mature content, making it suitable for readers over 18.”

OnlineBookClub Official Review

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Length: 392 pages.

Available from Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.