Church

Anne Rice Quits Christianity, Identifies with Growing Sentiment

by Q Ideas

A lot of news has emanated from the vampire novel community in the last few years, most of it not too helpful. But last week when Anne Rice declared that she “quit being a Christian,” she became a part of an important ongoing conversation about common perceptions of Christians and our faith.

Rice is an accomplished vampire novelist who authored such bestsellers as Interview with the Vampire and The Queen of the Damned, but eight years ago she converted to Christianity and nailed her vampire novels into a coffin. “In 2002 I made up my mind that I would not write anything that wasn’t for Christ,” Rice once told Beliefnet.

Hers is the kind of radical spiritual conversion stories you don’t often hear coming from the American intellectual elite, which makes her recent Facebook confession that she’s had enough of Christianity all the more interesting. She proclaimed, “As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”

Rice admitted in another post that she remains “committed to Christ as always but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity." Over 3,000 people on Facebook said they “like” her post and more than 4,000 have commented.

Is Rice alone in her sentiments? Or is she expressing an increasingly common sentiment—even among the faithful—that Christianity as we now see it expressed is often far from what Christ would have it be? The research commissioned by Q and released in the book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity . . . and Why it Matters, indicates that the latter is true. An entire generation has had enough of a judgmental, hypocritical, intellectual expression of the Christian faith.

It’s a bleak picture, but some believe we may be on the cusp of a great revival of our historic faith. Not the kind that will return Christians to some sort of cultural or political prominence, but rather an awakening to the roots of our faith. A new generation of Christians is re-imagining the faith, and their boldness and creativity should encourage us all. As we’ve observed, their stories may be the silver lining in Christianity’s recent black cloud and will be told in Q Founder Gabe Lyons’ forthcoming book, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith).

As Gabe recently told the news conglomerate GalleyCat in response to Rice’s comments, "The good news about many younger generation Christians (who'd agree with Anne by the way), is that they aren't defined by political activism and moral grandstanding. The next Christians live with a humble posture and are embracing the issues their faith's originator would support. They care not only about abortion and gay marriage; they also want to work on restoring every corner of the earth through promoting justice, fighting poverty, caring for the lonely, opposing nuclear weapons, curbing environmental destruction and so on. If Anne Rice was exposed more to this kind of restoration-minded Christian, she might even re-evaluate her position."

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Do Rice's statements resonate with you, offend you, or confuse you? Do you know people who feel like Rice in your own life?

Comments

mandie

I think being that she has such a large platform watching her every move, she could have gone about sharing where she's at with a bit more...tact. (and i could probably take her more seriously if she wasn't getting mauled by the ruffles on that crazy blouse)

Although I can relate to the way she feels, quitting Christianity is not the answer. What good does it do for all of these people to notice the weak spots only to walk away? How is the Church ever going to heal if everybody leaves?

Walking away from Christianity because you don't like everything about it is like throwing away the baby with the bath water.

Jonathan

While I understand the sentiments behind Anne Rice's statements, her definition of Christianity is quite narrow. There are plenty of segments of Christianity which are not anti-Democrat, anti-science, anti-birth control, etc.

If her statement means, "I want to follow Christ more than be forced to subscribe to a politico-social platform," all well and good. If it means, "I want to follow Christ without being in community," that's not how following Christ is meant to work.

jgarcia

It seems Christianity in general has gotten a pretty bad rap in the U.S. However, the general feeling of negativity towards the faith is not based on the faith itself or even on those who call themselves Christians. It's based on the news stories about scandals in the church, "Christian" politicians who attempt to legislate morality, and preachers who abuse the faith for personal gain. However, I honestly believe that these people are the minority.

I do agree that Christianity is changing in America, and I think for the better. Not only are there a lot of organizations doing great things for those in need in the name of Christ (Compassion, World Vision, Living Water International just to name a couple), but most Christians I know are kind, loving, sincere people who don't match the stereotypes mentioned about. It's just frustrating that in general, no one takes note of things like this...they just believe how things are portrayed in the media.

Mike

One could interpret Ms. Rice's statements to mean very different things...Is she making a political statement, attempting to generate some buzz and PR, desiring to distance herself from the judgment of legalism, or truly renouncing her faith?

If she is renouncing her faith based upon the actions of people then she has simply fallen prey to a tragic and all too common misunderstanding of what Christianity is all about. When we focus on the flaws of the inherently flawed as opposed to the flawlessness of Christ it is easy to become quickly discouraged. To so easily discard the ultimate gift because of the misguided actions of a few is a very sad thing. We should pray that people begin to value a personal relationship with Christ more than they do worldly labels.

Kathleen

Who / what is the final authority in our lives? If Jeremiah, Isaiah, or Ezekial were alive and decried the sins of the culture, would we say they were not "accepting" or "compassionate" enough? Would we laud those who persecuted and imprisoned them?

While Jesus absolutely loves the sinner (for we all are); He did not die to leave us in our sin, but He calls each and every one of us to repentance and to walk in the paths of the kingdom. Agreeing with that which distorts the human condition is not love. Calling sin acceptable is to deny someone the path to freedom and eternal life. Its God's kindness that leads to repentance.

Jonathan Merritt

JGarcia,

I agree that there are a lot of Christian people and organizations out there who are doing good work, but what gives? Why do you think Christians and Christianity has gotten such a bad reputation?

Jm

Chad Holtz

Great comments. I agree with Jonathan and garcia.

I sympathize with voices like Anne's but offer my own pushback on my blog where I write, "I Quit Being a White Man." Would invite your thoughts!

http://chadholtz.net/?p=1387 />
peace

Jane

I do believe that if she cannot accept the precepts that Jesus taught, and they do include sexual purity, then she should leave. However, I believe there are things far worse about the organized denominational churches that make them decidedly not Christian. One of these is the embracing of military service as a "Christian duty", which I see as the antithesis of Jesus' teaching. "Love your enemy." Likewise, I believe that if Christians would strictly follow His teachings they would be able to avoid conflicts concerning "worldly solutions".

Also, I think she is confusing people with actions. Although, a Christian must reject homosexuality, that does not mean they should mistreat 0r show hatred toward homosexuals. That does not mean that we should bring them into and embrace them in the assembly, but as we go about in the world we should keep on keeping on inviting them to "repent" and turn away from their sins. Sin is a sickness. The Gospel message is, first, a message of forgiveness THROUGH repentance. There is no forgiveness without repentance. What Jesus did was pay the price. That doesn't mean we now can condone those same sins that He died for. Love to all.

Steve

As a pastor of one of the "mainline" (sideline?) Protestant churches that have so often been clobbered for being most of the things that Ms. Rice says she doesn't find in Christianity, I'm reminded (from the other side) of a gathering I attended a couple of years ago at which slides of Walter Rauschenbusch and Bill Coffin were projected onto a large screen as "saints of the church," while the "Social Gospel" and mainline Protestantism were consistently castigated for somehow not being "Christian" enough, on the one hand, and not engaged enough, on the other. This all testifies to a sorry lack of knowledge of wide sectors of Christianity, especially in its more progressive forms. Many of us aren't "anti" any of the people/things she mentions, and we're certainly aware of the ways in which we fail to measure up to Jesus' mandates to his followers; but if people like her simply walk away (and trust me, I sympathize), it only abandons the field to the mean-spirited and narrow-minded brands of Christianity she deplores.

Steve

I can't help but get the feeling that a staw man is being dragged out and trounced again. It strikes me as non-helpful as those she intends to criticize.

William

If I was in 2005, I would say "Okay, Ms Rice quit Christianity, I would might do the same thing, too." If I was in 2007, I would say "Okay, Ms Rice quit Christianity, I would think she has not worked hard enough and understand enough what means to be part of Christianity". If I was in 2010, I would say "Okay, Ms Rice quit Christianity, I would use that example to teach my Sunday School that we are responsible for how we will represent Christ".

So bottom line is... we can't blame Ms Rice for quitting Christianity at all. Only way we can do is pray for her and do better for Christianity. Why am I being different in 2010? I have observed how I see Christians had been doing last 25 years, mostly judgmental and manipulative, etc. I could not figure out why in 2005, now in 2010, I found out why! UnChristian book was the answer! My prayers for everyone is to do RIGHT THING for sake of Jesus Christ's reputation.

For whatever is worth, we must be careful about homosexuals. 91% of outsiders labeled Christianity as anti-homosexual, yet, Jesus Christ say "LOVE THEM". Show LOVE FIRST because you don't know what really happened to homosexuals in childhood, only God knows, why should you judge them if Jesus Christ said "DO NOT JUDGE"?

Edward

After reading Ms. Rice's comments, I'm dispappointed. It appears to me that Ms. Rice seems to have missed one of fundamental elements of Biblical Christianity, basically that commitment to Christ includes a concurrent/resulting commitment to the Universal Church of Christ. It seems to me that what Ms. Rice wants is a purely personal relationship with Jesus, but not with His beloved community. She is too ready to summarily dismiss the church. Admitedly, we have our many "issues," but if I recall teh words fo Christ correctly, his prayer for the church was that we would be made one, just as he is one with his father in heaven. Her remarks reveal a very internalized and hyper-individualized spirituality that I believe is more akin to a form of Gnostic love of self (eros) than the (agape) love of God that is truly sacrificial and tends towards preference of others, sometimes at our own expense.

MaryC

It seems to me if you don't like the message that your Christianity is putting out then you need to change your message. Perhaps instead of taking the cowards way out and running away you might better serve God by standing in the face of adversity and showing the world what a True Christian is.

Our God is a mighty God. He is a God of love. He is a rightous God. He is a Holy God. We are called to walk as Jesus walked. We are called to speak to our brother or sister when they are walking wrong.

Instead of running away walk directly to person that is displayin the wrong behavior and in LOVE bring correction.

So check you heart. Know who you are in Christ. Walk in love. Know God's character and in there you will find yourself.

Troy Konicki

I think one major asset to our "being less unchristian" in this coming generation will be our understanding of Christ's love. I believe that we cannot carry the weight of ecclesiastical transformation without a constant understanding of our identity as beloved, faithful, called ones. I say this, because I feel like a lot of criticism is thrown at the church both from within and from without. The criticism tends around Christians being better and fixing problems, representing Christ. But, I think , though necessary, the critique has left many who are already in the "establishment" to feel stupid and outdated and many of the "movers and shakers" to feel prideful and self-righteous. I think, for any of this change to properly take place, there has to be an effort to reinterpret, re-impassion, and re-believe really, our identity as the Bride of Christ. If this were the case, then so many (including Rice) would not approach the church in a reactionary and vindictive way, but rather in love and in understanding. Those of us on the "outside", those of us trying to change the structure, would put our efforts to being the love and compassion of Christ to those "insiders" that may be hardened by time and tradition to act and live in certain ways that we have identified as "unchristian. And, likewise, those on the "inside" would view us "outsiders" as fellow sojourners, seeking God and his gospel. Instead of hurling blame on eachother, we could unite in our falleness, humility, and love.

I know this is idealistic and whatnot. I guess I hope that God will make it a reality though, in my life and in the life of this "next generation" as we make changes and take stances for just things. Otherwise, I fear we will inspire the same kind of problem a generation from now and the church will continue to be at war within itself, "liberal vs conservative", "old vs. new", "orthodox vs. Jesus" and the countless other stages of conflict.

Glennda Hardin

Didn't take the time to read all the comments that have been left so far, but my immediate thought was, "What 'Christians' has she been hanging out with?" I, and most of my Christian friends, strive for a life that shows the image of Christ to the world. That is what we are called to do. I do believe that people of faith can disagree on the topics Ms Rice mentioned. I don't believe that true Christians engender hate against any group or individual, but continue to pray, study and spread the good news to all people. I find that when one interacts on a personal basis with "those people", it almost always changes the way one sees these issues. And of course, when I become perfect, I'll be in line to cast the first stone.....

Dutch

Ms. Rice has certainly made a bold statement. It could be a number of things. Personally, I think that being a public figure lends itself to this kind of approach. She obviously wants to rock the boat if not sink it.

I have been in the ministry on many levels in many places, and I think many people resonate with Ms. Rice's statements, even though they are dramatic. People, for the most part, are not content to live in the small corners that much of the right wing evangelical posse would have them pushed into. Nor are they wanting to subscribe to only left wing social discussions. What have you...

Furthermore I believe it's quite sad that we have to resort to exiling ourselves in order to start conversations about it all. It's frustrating to be afraid in your own church. Not to have a voice. Not to be able to raise questions which would risk being ostracized. Why can't we discuss, and walk together, and learn without being threatening or threatened?

Steve

I think many "Christians" would be chastised in their temples by Christ. Ann Rice has not abandoned Christ. She has abandoned tenets of many denominations that are judgmental just as they were instructed not to be. She has a voice and an audience. What form of Christianity is she seeking us to be. Love thy neighbor as thyself seems to be distant when you sit in the pews on Sunday or in meetings on Wednesday night.

Reformation now!

Thomas Heard

Interesting that Ravi Zacharias has written a new book, now in the stores, entitled "Has Christianity Failed You? This came, in part, from a conference held about two years ago with Michael Ramsden and Jeff Foxworthy (yes, the comedian). I have not read the book but have it in hand to start. I think Ravi may have some good things to say about this issue. As for me, I find it hard not to affirm the bride of Christ though. The Church is an imperfect group being perfected and I worry what this says to the watching world when someone says I like Jesus but not my Church. It's very close to I love God but hate my brother -there is a strong warning from Jesus on this. I wonder how mature Ann is in her faith.

jgarcia

Jonathan,

I think it's simply the fact that things like scandals, immorality, and greed make better (as in, more sellable) news stories than people helping others in Christ's name.

Of course, there are certain things that we are to blame for to a certain degree, but I don't think that whole of Christianity is responsible for the bad rap we have in the US and elsewhere perhaps. It's kinda like in elementary school when one student did something bad and so the teacher canceled recess for everybody.

I do think that Anne exaggerated the situation a little...maybe? Or maybe those are the types of Christians that she is surrounded by. Whether or not that it is the case, I don't think that her "exodus from Christianity" is in anyway inherently harmful or sinful.

chris sieverts

We are evaluating from a distance, I wonder what her experience(s) were that prompted her public statement. It seems to me that as with all Christians, she is in need in of prayer as she sorts through her belief and how she lives this faith out. Thank God He is in control.

John Douglas

Rice resonates OK - Kinnaman & Lyon's "UnChristian" is excellent insight and challenge into "reChristianing Christianity" ... thanks for the article/think-piece ....

Chip Cain

I would suggest listening to an interview (completed just today ) on NPR. I believe it to be very insightful to the ongoing conversation here on Q. Here is a link to that interview.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128930526 />
Although she doesn't say this but there may very well be a place to reboot if you will organized Christianity Perhaps that's what Christ did a little over 2000 years ago. Reboot as in losing all the extraneous attachments that have been grafted along the way. Hmmmm . . . .

Mark Goode

Perhaps Ms. Rice could have quote Ghandi, who when asked why he was not a Christian in spite of quoting Jesus so often, said: “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Martyn Mayfield

Although I think it is more accurate to say she is leaving "Christendom" to follow Christ, she did bring out the sentiment of many people - myself included. In term of leaving the church - no! In terms of forming churches that are more about restoring all things to the original intent of God - yes! In terms of working to live and show the life of Christ in every corner of societies - definitely!

Jonathan Merritt

JGarcia: I kind of feel like disconnecting from a regularly assembling community of believers inherently harmful, don't you? I think we often frame Christianity in more individualistic terms than it was meant to be.

Martyn: Good distinction and great thoughts.

Gabe

Kirsten Powers, Fox News analyst, wrote a follow up story for The Daily Beast this morning that shares her own story and experiences that fit in the same vein. You can see it at

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-02/anne-rices-christianity-crisis/?cid=bs:archive3

netsuke

Unfortunately Ann is one of many Asherah poles in our culture which 'the deceiver' uses to draw our attention from the cross. If we are looking to the culture for our faith, we will find these distractions away from a Holy God who has provided the Savior for our redemption. 'Remember, stupid...it is always the money.'

jgarcia

Jonathan - yes, I totally agree - and I'm hoping that that's not the direction she is taking. Not only is this a Biblical instruction for followers of Christ, but it makes sense. I can easily say from firsthand experience that my faith would not be where it is at all without the influence of those who I am regularly in community with. Without this, not only do you lose the iron that is used to sharpen you, but you lose the support of fellow believers when hard times come...and you lose the blessing of being iron and being a support to others.

Jenn Williams

I shared my thoughts at leighwilliams.blogspot.com

skilker

We are, for the most part , rightly defined by outsiders through our own rhetoric and our abundant lack of kindness. We claim to love our neighbor but really do very little to demonstrate that love. If we really loved our neighbor in the ways we love ourselves the world couldn't fail to notice. Too many of us have settled for a sort of benign neutrality. Our man made ethic seems to be do no harm as opposed to do to others as you would have them do to you. Love is proactive goodness, the kind of goodness God shows us evey day. What about the command to love our enemies? In the midst of our benign neutrality (apathy) we have the audacity to proclaim we alone know God and have residing in us the truth.

Our claims ring hollow because we have not authenticated ourselves as Christ followers. We are not gentle. We are not meek. We go about seeking our own good using every worldly devise that non believers do and then wonder why we are reviled as we exhort (force) others into compliance with our views on morality.

We need to start doing the deeds of love in order to earn the right to speak the words of love. We have an intellectual faith unmatched by loving action. Let me ask you. How much of your personal monthly budget is earmarked for your neighbors? At best we give to God 10%. How much of your church's budget is spent on the well being of others. I'll assume it isn't 50%. As defined by our check books we are overwhelmingly concerned for our self interest. I think consumed is a more accurate word. Love is sacrificial living for the benefit of others. Love is being primarily concerned with the well being of the ones we claim to love. We however, pursue the American Dream with gusto and along the way wag our fingers at those who don't share our moral sensibilities. Frankly, I 'm surprised that we haven't been run out of town on a rail.

Love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18

Love your enemies. Luke 6:27

Do good to those who hate you. Matthew 5:44

Bless those who curse you. Luke 6:28

Pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Give to everyone who asks of you. Luke 6:30

Lend to others and don't expect anything back. Luke 6:35

"What do you more than others", Jesus asks of us in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say". Luke 6:46.

We repesent a generous God and He expects us to emulate His abundant kindness. Lavish and extravagant He has been to us through Jesus Christ. Can we do less as we attempt to draw others to Him? Let's give ourselves away-let's serve generously with all that God has blessed us with. A cynical world has been watching. We have been weighed and found wanting.

Roger Jerwith

Do people really care about what Anne Rice thinks?

Anderson

Ms. Rice struggles in the Christian doctrine are not uncommon. We who have finite minds often struggle with concepts and laws that were created by an infinite God. However if we were able to understand all the ways of God then He would loose his

"Godness". What Ms Rice is struggling with is not the Bible nor its rules but she has succumbed to the problem of moral relativism.

Allow me to explain. If we were having this same discussion a hundred years ago (or maybe even a lot less) this document would not have been posted as problem within the Church. Abortion would have been seen as clearly murder on both political sides and homosexuality would have been seen as a disjoint of what God has created between a man and a woman. So we must ask ourselves why do we wrestle with such concepts today? Simple our sinful culture around us is pressuring us with their moral relativist views that each person gets to decided what is true or not true for their own lives. In essence each one adapts their own "Godness". However this is one thing we must come to agreement with. Truth is truth. If stated yesterday or 3 thousand years ago truth still remains the same. If God is the author of Truth then what he proclaims in His word is timeless. I hope Ms. Rice comes to the realization that she can't simply modify truth to her liking. You either take it all and trust that the Lord will show you His ways or you don't take it at all.

regina joans

i so appreciate the thought all of this fosters.

i quite agree with anderson - truth is ever fixed. as we have advanced in society, we have degraded the created order God intended as we succumb to our thinking. we have "advanced" ourselves out of His ways. acutely progressive we are not - the amount of pain & broken hearts all around us are great signs that our progressiveness has not developed healthy hearts. relativism has eroded truth & the result is bitter apathy. yet truth is ever fixed... truth is a person & His name is Jesus. Jesus isn't intolerant - He is compassionate & He is love. the ways He has set for created order are for our best. i don’t always understand them, but i trust that in the obedience of His ways, i experience the greatest joy & peace - regardless of circumstance.

i pray that through all the tension & ache of a flawed world, His love resonates to our deepest places. we can't throw our hands up in the air despite justified reason. there is a real battle for our souls & faith isn't faith that sees - we have to strain forward in His truth & in His love. when we avail ourselves to the love of Christ, our faith is spurred & we are filled with the Spirit of God in a way that moves us beyond our grasp. but i recognize that is fiercely daunting.

when our humanism shapes our worldview, we miss out on the miraculous intimate touch of the Father in our faith process. we are myopic & narrow & He is infinite. Jesus wants us. He is enough to salve our wounds & speak life into our dead places. there is a tension to the refining process on this flawed earth. i fear it is perhaps easier to throw our hands up in the air. but even as we wrestle, God is.

read this from the relentless tenderness of Jesus this morning (by brennan manning)...

you will trust God only as much as you love Him. & you will love Him not because you have studied Him; you will love Him because you have touched Him - in response to His touch. even then your troubles are not over. you may still wrangle with God. you may cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" only if you love will you make that final leap into darkness; "Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit."

to the extent we have responded, to the extent we have surrendered, made the leap & cried out, "i believe in the love of Jesus Christ for me,", our lives are transformed.

skilker

We are admonished to speak the truth in love but sady all to often the truth has been communicated by shrill and unsympathetic voices. That is not love, but brutality. While commanded to make the most of every opportunity we have allowed some very public Christian leaders to be ungracious in the way they address outsiders. This creates the impression that these shrill voices are representative of all Christians.

I urge all Christians everywhere to exhibit the love they have for others. Start in your homes and neighborhoods. Search for ways to be helpful. Become entrepenuerial in your approach to expressing God's kindness in practical ways. Live for Christ and sacrificially for others. While you are about it let folks know you are Christ followers. As they grow in respect for you and your lifestyle of kindness in action I guarantee that some will ask why you are the way you are. You have now been invited into the conversation you have wanted to have all along. Be about this daily and before long your enthususiasm for loving on people will become contagious. Manifest your Sonship and an unbeleiving world will be drawn to your light.

Gabe Lyons

Dan Harris at ABC News did a nice piece with Anne last night that I think gets deeper into her perspective on all of this. Its worth watching to hear the angst and sadness in this bible reading, faithfully practicing Catholic who just had had enough.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/vampire-author-quits-church-11380736

Rich in Texas

Oh, I get it. Her socio-political views just happened to get in the way of her "faith". It seems to me that Anne is out to make a statement, rather than reconcile the difference between her own worldview and God's holiness (a diciples daily dilemma). It's what we all must question - how does the way I see the world line-up with how God sees it? A disciple, however, doesn't put down his/her cross when the world gets in the way. I understand she still pursues certain disciplines like prayer and bible reading, and may label those as her own attempt at maintaining her faith; but really, are these just platitudes? To what end prayer; to what end bible reading?

If the call is to die to ourselves, do we cheapen it when we demand discretion as to where and when? If the call is to become less self-absorbed, do we miss the point when we argue for our "gay-rights" and "gender-equality". If the call is to know God and live like Christ, why do we get hung-up on legalistic minutiea involving issues over what contraceptive devices we can use?

The message is about salvation and transformation and we're talking about sex...really? As progressive as Ms. Rice sounds, it's the same tired, old cry from anyone who would have scales fall from their eyes: "What about me! My feelings, my beliefs, my objections. What about me! My belief about how things should be...me, me, me!"

How unimpressive. Not just in her case, but in all of ours. How quickly do we run away from transformation, loudly screaming "save me from that cross!" How easily is our faith tamed by substituting socio-political priorities for those disciplines that would "wake us from the dead" and change our hearts, minds and souls. Vampires indeed...

Rich in Texas

Martyn Mayfield says:

"Although I think it is more accurate to say she is leaving "Christendom" to follow Christ, she did bring out the sentiment of many people - myself included. In term of leaving the church - no! In terms of forming churches that are more about restoring all things to the original intent of God - yes! In terms of working to live and show the life of Christ in every corner of societies - definitely!"

I would agree to the point at where your own worldview deviates from that of Christ's...

But what then? It's "togetherness" until we disagree. "Unity" until our feeling get hurt. "Brotherhood" until our agendas differ. "Chirstlikeness" until it's inconvenient. In Anne's case, it would appear that her embrace of Christ has been compromised. For what? A gay-rights agenda? No wonder the world shakes it head and chooses the country club down the road...

I can appreciate the individual calls we respond to in our walk. But those that create controversy for the sake of futhering an agenda? It smacks of a self-serving attitude. Christ's agenda was less "individual" right oriented and pointed more towards an attitude of self-sacrifice. Even when he took a whip to those polluting the temple in a moment of righteous anger, his inclination was not to leave the church. He was the church! We are the church!

This beautiful, imperfect, heavenly-aligned, awkward institution is where we find ourselves. I don't believe the the answer is to run away at every disagreement - start our "own" club when the one down the street "fails to meet our needs". It is exactly what is wrong with our thinking today. This spritual consumeristic attitude might as well be call McChistianity. It sounds like she is simply taking her toys to her corner of the sandbox...

Red Bane

Anne Rice returns to the sepulchre of her mind

http://conversationwithcrombette.blogspot.com/2010/08/anne-rice-returns-to-seplechure-of-her.html

Trevor

"Quit Christianity?!" One doesn't simply "quit Christianity" as if it were some intramural softball team or a country club. You either belong to Him or you don't!

Many outside of Christianity, and many who feign to be a part of it, have an especially distorted view about what it means to be a follower of Christ. They seem eager to embrace His message of love and forgiveness, as well they should, but they easily forget His message of repentance and salvation. Also, they fail to notice that He was and is, of all things, a very controversial and divisive figure.

Consider these words or accounts of Christ: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven (Matt. 10:32-33).” “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent (Matt. 11:20).”

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out (Mark 9:43).” When sending out His disciples He said, “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you…’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town (Luke 10:10-12).”

You see, what many people seem to want out of Christianity and its followers are simply nice “do-gooders” who go about their business without causing any trouble. The greatest miracle recorded in Scripture that Christ performed was raising someone from the dead. (There are three recorded instances of this occurring.) This was not done merely out of “niceness,” only to save the lives of those who had died. They would, after all (with apologies to James Bond), “die another day.” His ultimate goal was to give them “everlasting life.”

This could be said of every miracle Christ performed. It is true that He healed, fed, and cast out demons because of His great love for those in need. However, these acts alone did not save anyone. Those healed of one disease or sickness would someday die of another. Those fed would someday be hungry again. Christ’s ultimate goal was to bring people into His Kingdom. In other words, God became man not simply to improve us, or help us, but to make us into new creatures.

“Niceness” and “good deeds” are excellent things. Jesus told His followers to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).” Inversely, as C.S. Lewis puts it, “When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.”

Lewis continues, “We must try by every medical, educational, economic, and political means in our power, to produce a world where as many people as possible grow up ‘nice’; just as we must try to produce a world where we all have plenty to eat. But we must not suppose that even if we succeed in making everyone nice we should have saved their souls. A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world—and might even be more difficult to save.”

It is not cruel, or even rude, for a Christian to speak out against, or even condemn, acts such as abortion, homosexuality, lust, greed, etc. We are, after all, in a war—a spiritual one with eternal consequences. There is little time to worry whether others see us as playing “nice.”

Rich in Texas

Trevor, you hit a home-run. Most do not acknowledge the war around them. They are too busy planting daisies on the battlefield.

We, the church, cannot be satisfied with any motivation outside of the Holy Spirit - anything done without the longing for holiness. Our good acts, our "niceness", does not make-up for motivation rooted in pride, self-service, humanism, etc. Even though some would disagree, the intent of the Gospel is not equality, or political correctness, or any form of material socialism or fairness. The intent is salvation.

John Montgomery

@ Rich.... by fairness do you perchance mean justice? and if you do, then I wonder about your understanding of salvation. It seems to me that the Kingdom of God, which Jesus talk a lot about, had something to do with justice... on earth as it is in heaven.

Rich in Texas

@ John Montgomery...Good question. Let me give you a layman's answer, then please let me know your opinion. I stand by my statement that the intent of the Gospel is "salvation". I did not mean to say justice, which may be limited to a materialistic connotation. My intention behind using the word "salvation" in lieu of "justice" is to show that salvation trancends the concept of justice.

It would appear at times that the focus of God's message gets shifted. What I mean is that the higher goal of "making man right with God" plateaus on the goal of making everyone here on earth equal. It becomes a quest of equality in materials. Although I will admit an important quest when we are talking food, water, shelter, medicine, etc.

My stance is that the Gospel should not stop here. Especially when then the message is sidetracked into a political, socio-economic debate. This can prevent an appreciation of the more urgent message of the Gospel: How does God reconcile man's sin?

Dave Taylor

It's not particularly unusual or courageous to "quit Christianity" with all its flaws and failures, at least in its American forms. Nor is it excusable.

"When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:21-22)

"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God." (John 12:42-43)

The synagogue for these leaders meant social acceptance and ostracism meant social oblivion. Some of the public disavowals and repudiations of Christianity seem to spring from the same fear: What wil people think of me if I continue to be associated with this faith in its contemporary forms? Her "synagogue" may be her reading public, the literary critics and intellectuals whose opinion she values. But what, or more to the point, who, matters more?

This is where the rubber meets the road. Just how committed are you to the church and the ministry of the gospel? Committed enough to be misunderstood with little opportunity to defend yourself? Committed enough to remain identified with a faith that has gotten a lot of (deservedly) bad press?

Could you go before the people like Elijah when there are 800 prophets discrediting and opposing your message and the people are so lukewarm they have nothing to say when you challenge them to choose Baal or God?

I agree with the point that a lot of "branches" that haven't borne fruit need to be pruned and thrown away (cf. John 15:2). In fact, I welcome it, perhaps as much as you do. But is this all there is to Ms. Rice's decision to "quit"? I don't think so.

http://disjournal.blogspot.com

APG

.

If I could meet her in person, I would

love to say "Thank you Anne Rice –

for so very articulately stating what

I have felt in my heart for years" !!!!

One's 'Faith-in-Christ’ should IN NO WAY

be tied into the man-controlled 'Religion'

that so many refer to as "Christianity"

(especially that apostate, psuedo-religious

political-movement called 'evangelicalism')

It took me forever to realize that my

relationship with God (as established

through Christ Jesus, God The Son) was

IN NO WAY dependent on the apostate

psuedo-religious movement sweeping

America in the name of the "church".

If Christ were walking the earth today,

a lot of these same "religious" types

would be the first to demand that He

be 'crucified' -- and based merely on

who He chose as FRIENDS (women,

gays, foreigners, immigrants, the poor,

the rejected, the downtrodden, the rich,

men, old, young, happy, sad, and so on).

The "evangelicals" (not to be mistaken

for TRUE FOLLOWERS of Christ) and

other "church" types have essentially

hijacked the Christian 'Faith' in order to

turn it into a mammon-worshipping,

power-mongering, "Religion" of hate.

These people are more akin to a system of

ANTI-CHRIST (i.e. “against”-Christ) than

to anything tied into WHO CHRIST IS.

Their evil has reached such profound levels

that even people who know and love Christ

are turned off from them and their words

(again proving these “church” types are

really nothing more than anti-Christ,

self-righteous Pharisees and are not

even remotely related to Jesus Christ).

Never again will I waste my time stepping

into the psuedo-religious social-club that

is known as "church" or associate myself

with the political-clique that is known as

'christianity' -- because FROM NOW ON

-- I realize that I do NOT "need" either

in order to have a relationship with MY

LORD JESUS CHRIST (in fact, those

two entities were actually 'interfering'

with my relationship with God)

THROUGH CHRIST -- GOD HAS OPENLY

EXPRESSED HIS LOVE TO 'EVERYONE'

(no matter if rich, poor, gay, straight, male,

female, sickly, healthy and so on) -- AND

CHRIST (not the so-called"church") IS

'THE DOOR' and 'THE WAY' TO GOD!!

ALL ARE WELCOME TO APPROACH AND

TO ENTER THROUGH 'THE DOOR' TO GOD!!

NO ONE IS REJECTED BY JESUS CHRIST !!!

JESUS LOVED AND LOVES EVERYONE !!!

LET’S ALL TRY TO REMEMBER

THE BIBLE VERSE OF ‘JOHN 3:17’:

“For God did NOT send His Son

into the world – to condemn

the world, BUT that the world,

THROUGH HIM, might be SAVED !!!!”

JESUS CHIST – and *not* the institution known

as “the church” or the religion called “christianity”

--- IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE!!!

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE – I AM DONE

WITH THE CHURCH & WITH CHRISTIANITY

-- AND FROM HERE ON OUT – MY FOCUS IS

ON (AND FAITH IN GOD RELIES IN) JESUS

CHRIST AND JESUS CHRIST ALONE !!!

.

Michael

I've always said: "If you can, you will." If you can quit Christ, you will. If He is your life, you can't. Whether she apostasized is unclear, but if "Christianity" is just another iteration of a human search for "self", I'm not surprised.

Anon

Unfortunately, I can agree with her statements. Too often we see the business and political side of the church. Many look to beat out the other church down the street with their program, but forget, or choose to ignore, winning hearts for Jesus. I think a revolution of the Christian faith is coming and I, for one, am excited. We often forget Jesus spent his time with the the prostitutes and tax collectors, who would be the gays and drug addicts of the day. Who are we to sit so highly on our perch and be the one to judge those people.

I for one am sick of "Christianity the institution" and looking forward to just spending time with Christ.

Anon

janet k

Wow...some of my political views don't match with some of my friends at church....but really, I belong to a church because of my love for God and His Son. You (I) can still be a democrat, pro-life and pro-environment, and undecided about gay marriage and not turn my back on following Christ. I am sorry for her....

antonio gonzalez

Ms.Rice was never a true born again believer,she seems to have been a "christian "only in the flesh,not in the spiritual sense because a new creation in Christ can never go back to a state that never was.Christ is the One who chooses,you don't choose Christ with your intellect,it has to be an spiritual experience or nothing will change in the life of a sinner,a new baby has no history. how can he go back to a place he never was???!!!

Sean

Antonio,

Last time I checked, you're not the authority on whether or not someone is a "born again believer."

Also, that's such worn out language.

xtian777

TIME STAMPS. WHEN WAS ANY OF THIS DISCUSSION POSTED AND DATED? TIME IS RELEVANT.

xtian777

MARCH 27, 2011 3:28:50 AM EST

Don Miller

Wake up folks, Anne Rice was never a true Christian.

Sharon

Don,

Reading some of your comments, I'm more worried about you.

Roberta

I've always contended that Rice is not to be trusted. She wrote books about Jesus which would have never sold without her famous name. It was all about money.

As for the sentiment that "Christianity as we now see it expressed is often far from what Christ would have it be" -- I agree but not on the same merits as you. Ever since the Reformation we now have thousands of denominations started by humans. The Catholic Church was instituted by Christ and has an unbroken succession of apostles. Luther removed sections of the Holy Bible that were too "Catholic."

Who started your church?

Christ said "I came not to destroy the law but to perfect it." The Law is the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments.