Next Steps

This page offers practical options, not expectations.

You don’t need to “sign up,” declare anything, or reach certainty to take the next step.

This page simply outlines options — not requirements.
Use whatever helps you, ignore whatever doesn’t.

1. Visit a Parish (No Commitments, No Scripts)

Most clergy genuinely expect — and welcome — visitors who are:

  • curious
  • unsure
  • exploring
  • returning after years
  • asking real questions

If you walk into an Anglican, Catholic, or Orthodox church in Australia, nobody will:

  • interrogate you
  • test your beliefs
  • demand you take communion
  • pressure you to join

You can just sit, watch, and leave.

If you prefer anonymity at first, start with a quiet Sunday service (not a major feast day).

If you want company, bring a friend.

2. Talk to a Minister or Priest (When You’re Ready)

A conversation with clergy can be surprisingly normal.
Most are trained listeners, not salespeople.

You can ask:

  • “How does your church understand Christianity?”
  • “What would I need to know about joining?”
  • “What if I’m not sure I believe yet?”
  • “Can I attend without being baptised?”
  • “What’s the difference between Anglican and Catholic?”

You don’t need to have your life sorted out.
You don’t need a polished story.

Just ask honest questions.

3. Explore Baptism (If You Ever Want That)

Baptism in every Christian tradition marks belonging to Christ.

You don’t need to decide quickly.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to know everything.

If you ever reach the point of wanting baptism, the usual pattern is:

  • talk with clergy
  • attend preparation sessions
  • understand the meaning
  • choose sponsors/godparents (if infant)
  • choose confirmation later if adult

Anglican and Catholic paths differ slightly, but both respect the process and your pace.

4. Attend a Discussion Group

Many parishes run:

  • “Christianity 101” courses
  • Anglican “bootcamps”
  • Alpha courses
  • RCIA (Catholic entry pathway)
  • evening Bible studies
  • Q&A nights

You can attend without commitment.

These environments let you ask questions you might not feel comfortable asking during a Sunday service.

5. Read or Watch More (Privately)

If you prefer to explore quietly at home, good entry points include:

Bible (starting points):

  • Gospel of Mark — shortest, punchiest
  • Gospel of Luke — compassionate and detailed
  • Acts — the early church story

Classics (accessible):

  • C.S. Lewis — Mere Christianity
  • N.T. Wright — Simply Christian
  • Tim Keller — The Reason for God

This Website:
You can read:

  • The Human Quest
  • The Christian Claim
  • The Christian Story
  • The Christian Way of Life
  • Christian Differences

…at your own pace.

6. Reflect on Your Own Questions

Some questions only you can answer:

  • What kind of person do I want to become?
  • What do I trust most deeply?
  • What do I hope happens after death?
  • What version of “goodness” do I want my life to embody?
  • Where do I sense longing, regret, or hunger for meaning?

These questions belong to you, not to any church.

Faith grows, if it grows at all, in honesty — not denial.

7. Find a Community That Feels Like Home

Different parishes —
and even different services within the same parish — have different “accents”:

  • some formal
  • some relaxed
  • some liturgical
  • some contemporary
  • some traditional
  • some small, some large

There is no “correct” style.
The right community is the one where you feel:

  • safe
  • respected
  • challenged but not shamed
  • encouraged, not manipulated
  • able to grow without pretending

Theology matters, but community health matters too.

8. What You Don’t Need to Do

You don’t need to:

  • rush
  • pretend
  • choose a denomination immediately
  • have answers to everything
  • resolve all doubts before exploring
  • match anyone else’s timeline

God isn’t in a hurry.
You don’t need to be either.

Where to Go Next on This Site

Depending on your interests:

Or simply explore freely.