> American pastors by and large do not get in front of their congregations and say "do this and don't do this, otherwise you'll burn in hell."
Yes and no. There are certainly "liberal" and "community" focused Christian churches.
But there is also, and proudly, a very distinct, baptist/fundamental/born again Christian tract that absolutely is driven by the stereotyped "angry man preaching fire and brimstone" to a chorus of Amens and Hallelujahs. People who believe that "gentle and caring" Christianity, not to mention atheism and hedonism, are what are wrong with the world, and only a vengeful God, and those not afraid to tell the hard word, is the only "solution".
"Liberal" is the church I was at last month where the pastor said you couldn't be Christian and Republican at the same time. But short of that is the mushy middle of mainstream Christian churches that nonetheless stay away from the fire and brimstone stuff, if only because there's not much of a market for it in most places. Think about it: sex outside of marriage is almost universal in the U.S. There are only so many people who will do that, but then go to a church that tells them they'll go to hell for doing that. Your random Bible Church in the suburbs is not spouting this stuff.
Yes and no. There are certainly "liberal" and "community" focused Christian churches.
But there is also, and proudly, a very distinct, baptist/fundamental/born again Christian tract that absolutely is driven by the stereotyped "angry man preaching fire and brimstone" to a chorus of Amens and Hallelujahs. People who believe that "gentle and caring" Christianity, not to mention atheism and hedonism, are what are wrong with the world, and only a vengeful God, and those not afraid to tell the hard word, is the only "solution".