New to Pathfinder, entirely. Looking for recommendations

[Bitsy Ironclaw]

I'm thinking about getting into the game here pretty soon. I've looking to steer away from my normal routines in RPGs as more combat-heavy character/DPS, so I was thinking of choosing a Cleric. I've heard this is not ideal as they're apparently a bit complicated to use for a newer player. I'm going to be stubborn and do it anyway. I was thinking a human cleric. Domains being Healing & Sun (sticking with Sun Bros) I have no idea what kind of feats I would want to select. Please feel free to let me know what you'd recommend for a character along those lines.

[chbgraphicarts]

Clerics are some of the most effective beatsticks in the game, sorry to tell you.

But, if you're trying to play a White Mage, play an Ecclesitheurge

Ecclesiatheurge is an "Archetype" - that is to say, a variant on the basic Cleric.

As far as Feats go, you can try Selective Channel, Warrior Priest, Improved Initiative, Combat Casting, Uncanny Concentration, Turn Undead

For the first few levels.

[Arachnofiend]

Clerics are designed to start out primarily thwacking things with a stick and then later move on into being a full caster. If being a healer is your thing, Cleric is really rather poor for that; Cleric healing is good for desperation situations but very poor as a main gig. An Oracle with the Life mystery is much better at being your usual RPG white mage.

[SmiloDan]

What do you want to do as a cleric?

What do you want to do in combat? Tank? Heal? Ranged combat? Buff? Blast? De-buff? Summon? Aid others? Striker? Battlefield control?

What do you want to do out of combat? Diplomat? Knowledge/Sage? Heal? Be the advisor? Craft? Interrogate? Spread the word? Travel? Build?

Maybe decide what kinds of activities you want your character to do, and then choose what race and class will best help you to do those. Cleric might very will be the class for, it very solid and very easy to play and very hard to mess up. Even supposedly sub-optimal choices in feats, skills, race selection, ability score distribution, etc., can easily be overcome.

[Magda Luckbender]

Like the people above said, what do you want your cleric to do? Here are some common types of cleric. They can be as different as night and day. Note that those 'types' of cleric are never mentioned in any rule book. Those are just the most common proven-effective ways to do a cleric.

Pathfinder Cleric's are not especially difficult to make or play. Clerics do benefit more than other classes from having a plan for level advancement.