Do churches talk about the scary aspects of Christianity enough?

[zulubump]

By the scary aspects I mean things like:
-Hell
-Original sin
-The role of women in the church
-Views on homosexuals
-etc

And should churches make time to talk about these things, especially to newcomers to the faith?

I ask because I have been going to church for just over three years now and my concerns over these things really hold me back in my faith. I hesitantly think of myself as a Christian these days, but these are my main stumbling blocks. And these topics really don't come up often in a Sunday service! It took me a while to find the guts to talk to a few people at church about my worries and our minister came and spent an evening talking to me about them, which I really appreciated. And while I am feeling more relaxed about these issues now and happy that no one has put any pressure on me to believe any particular viewpoint, I am a long way from resolving my doubts. And there just aren't many opportunities to talk to people about them.

Do you think that churches should talk more about these things? I know they aren't pleasant topics, but I find that if scary things don't get talked about then they just seem all the more scary. I'm wondering if I would be mad to suggest to our minister to find out if there would be interest in having a series of talks on these kind of topics. I'm thinking something like an outline of what the Bible has to say on each topic followed by the differing views that exist within Christianity today and then a chance for some questions and debate. Or would everyone run a mile from spending an evening talking about these things??!

These things don't generally come up during services, but churches often have smaller groups where you can discuss things.

You should be able to talk to someone about these things - but whether you can or not is another thing! iiwy I'd make an appt with the vicar to raise your concerns and either s/he will work through them with you or will pass you on to someone else who can.

Failing that - why not start some threads on here? There's some very knowledgeable bods around these parts and you'd also not be judged. It would give you the chance to bash out your concerns. Plus it's often just voicing them that releases the pressure iyswim.

If you do a course such as Alpha or Christianity Explored, you can discuss all of those issues, and go into further depth with post-Alpha home groups (for example).

These topics rarely come up in services because they are a small part of scripture. Churches which follow the lectionary will cover these topics at least every three years.

There is an excellent very articulate preacher based out of Atlanta who does cover these topics - or closest I've ever seen/heard. He is very clear and logical in his sermons.

He has a website with radio broadcasts and TV broadcasts. If you browse around you can see some of these covered:

www.intouch.org/broadcast/audio-archives

I suspect they like to get you hooked before admitting to all the hateful things that they "believe" in.

Thanks for the replies. Springydaffs I did have a talk with our minister and he was helpful. It's just there are a lot of things I'm worrying about - too many to cover thoroughly in one evening. And I find it helpful to get different people's perspectives on them. MrsMeaner I also did an Alpha course a few years ago but I found the way each evening was centered around a particular theme made it hard to get to these concerns. There were things like How and Why Should I Pray, Why Should I Believe the Bible, The Holy Spirit etc. I often felt the questions I had in my head weren't relevant to the theme. Also I didn't know any of the people on the Alpha course and felt a bit intimidated to ask what I really wanted to!

I am in a housegroup and that is a good way sometimes to voice these concerns. But again they don't come up that often in what we are discussing. And there isn't always someone there who knows enough to answer my questions. I also just feel a bit frustrated that some of these issues seem big and scary but there isn't anything in place to help people deal with them. There are so many times I've considered walking away from church because these beliefs seem ludicrous and unhelpful. I wonder what I'm getting myself into being amongst people that believe these things!! I can see what Technodad is getting at! But the bits of Christianity that I find inspiring and helpful keep me going. I just feel like there is this whole dark side that doesn't get talked about.

I don't think it has anything to do with getting hooked.

Most adults come into the Christian faith struggling with the topics that the OP has highlighted - especially that of suffering.

The reason very little is said in sermons is because Jesus' resurrection triumphed over sin, death and the devil. This is not to say the devil does not exist, but it has to be put in the right proportion.

Those who emphasis evil may well have the devil on their backs.

I don't understand what is 'scary' about the most of the things you mentioned. Do you mean the churches view on these things?

The answers to your questions will depend a lot on which specific church you mean. Are you talking about the CofE or a different christian group?

Even within the CofE there is a lot of variation in opinion. I know of somewhere that contains quite a lot of senior church figures. There are also several gay members of clergy, the chief priest is a woman who is involved in campaigning for women bishops and no one believes in hell. I know of somewere else, also CofE, which is almost the complete opposite. There isn't one official church opinion, belief of practice on anything much and that is why I like it (and also get frustrated at times). My very limited experience of other christian groups is that they can be more hardline, outated and IMO sexist/homophobic. More hell and damnation if you don't do x, y and z. (Most aren't of course).

If you are relatively new to christianity I would encourage you to branch out and speak to as many people as you can from the different denominations until you feel there is one you believe and agree with. If you believe in Jesus Christ then you are a christian but you don't have to hang your hat on any peg you aren't comfortable with.

No one believes in Hell? Umm, not true.

It is true about the particular place I am referring to MrsMeaner.

I'll state my position before I write, as it may help you decide about my views! I am an atheist, who went to a convent school, and only lost all faith as an older teenager. However, I believe that Christ lived, and was a source of goodness and inspiration, and much of what he preached retains total relevance today.

I think that if you want to describe yourself as Christian, you should aspire to CHRISTS values, not those of the church you attend.

As I read the bible, he welcomed all, especially the lowest and meanest in society, the dispossessed, the prostitutes (a symbol of all women in the era he lived?), the sick and dying. He did not judge them. He helped them with their problems and shared their sorrows, and preached that all would ascend to heaven if they had a true faith.

Some of the most Christian people I know do not attend church, they live these values instead.

He connected with them - but very much did judge them. What did he tell the prostitute? Go and sin no more.

I do think churches should be open to discussing these things and make chances for people to do so. Some skirt round the issues and people feel confused. To me the things you mention are not central tenets of the christian faith, and like pps have said you get differing opinions across different denominations and even within denominations. I don't think churches should be being prescriptive about this kind of thing - no where in scripture supports absolute views or definite standpoints - but should certainly be open to debate and discussion.

In my opinions churches should spend more time shaking people from their lethargy to follow Jesus through all they do, and show this by their treatment of the poor and the marginalised. I would hope that a church would do this alongside being certain about central tenets and allowing discussion around peripheral issues.

Again thanks for all the replies. I go to a Methodist church and to give a bit of background I've been going for about three years and was not a church-goer previous to that. I spent most of those three years just going to Sunday services with my kids. Most of the services I found uplifting and inspiring, but occasionally one would touch on something that would remind of the fact that many Christians believe in, for example, eternal hell for non-believers or that we are all born in sin. I would often come out of these services reeling somewhat and feeling that any faith I thought I'd found was crumbling. These are topics I find it really hard to come to terms with.

I found it really hard to approach anyone to talk to it about. I think having no church background I didn't know if it was the done thing to even mention these topics! After a Sunday service everyone stands around chatting over cups of tea and coffee and the thought of asking someone what they believe about Hell just seemed so incongruous. It took me a lot of time and worrying to pluck up the courage to talk to a friend and then to our minister. I'm gradually getting somewhere now, gradually talking to more people and feeling less stressed about it all. But it has left me wondering how many people try church and then give up for similar reasons. There were so many times when I came home from church feeling upset about one of the topics I find scary and thinking that I couldn't face going back to church or talking to anyone about it. I think I just assumed that to be accepted by a group of Christians you had to believe in these doctrines. I wonder how many people who believe in a God don't even consider going to church because they find these ideas too offputting. I just think it's a shame when there is so much that can be gained from having faith. Maybe churches could be doing more to help people find God by addressing these issues that are uncomfortable. Or maybe it's just me!

Anyway, sorry for the long past, thats enough for tonight!