Going to a temple will cut to the chase, so to speak. Many Hindus could care less about scripture. In the west, religions are often scripture based, and often newcomers have generalised that idea to include other faiths. Hinduism has scripture, but it is more action and devotion based. We do ritual, perform selfless service, work on ourselves to be harmonious with family, and much more. How important scripture is varies from person to person.
Temples vary too. In North Indian style temples, often a pundit will give a speech in the language that the temple founders are. It could be Hindu for Gujarati for example. It could also be English, but that is rare. In South Indian style temples, no speaker will talk. It will just be ritual, with the implicit assumption that everyone who comes will know what's going on.
If you are in my city, I would gladly guide you to several temples here, so you could have a first hand 'feel' for it. Good chance if you feel quite uncomfortable at a Hindu temple, than it may not be for you. Nobody is going to try to convince you of anything. You're on your own.
The primary purpose of a temple is that it is God's home. The priest's main concern is to beckon God and get His?Her presence there, so the devotees in attendance can receive the blessings, supplicate with prayer, and otherwise commune with God. There is no intermediary priest. it's just you and God, in a direct call.
