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News & ArtsThursday, July 29, 2010
Religion / Books Anne Rice Quits Being Christian
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Five years ago (!) I reviewed the first book in vampire-author-cum-born-again-Christian Anne Rice's series of novels about the life of Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, Anne Rice quit Christianity on Facebook.
"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 says she is still a follower of Christ. But now that she's renounced all the straitlaced stuff, maybe she'll get back to the trashy vampire books and leave Jesus out of her fiction. Rice's foray into Christianity was even more painful than Bob Dylan's.
2
good for her. but she could acknowledge that there are many christian churches where you can be pro-gay, pro-womens rights, pro-liberal, pro-science. progressive christianity is a wonderful thing.
3
@2 That's true, but for some people, the term "Christian" has become so poisoned (as a result of conservative religious fundamentalism), that the very act of self-identifying as "Christian" becomes repugnant to them. I can sympathize with that.
4
Cool. Always nice to see when someone's wise enough to admit a mistake, and she gets mad props from me for being willing to change her mind instead of entrenching and making excuses.
She's still not a good writer, though.
@2, instead of trying to repeat it all here, I suggest you look up some interviews with or writing by somebody like Richard Dawkins or Chris Hitchens about how liberal Christians, by identifying as Christians, are in effective if not intended solidarity with backwards, bigoted Christians and thereby "make room" for them culturally. You can't honestly, unreservedly distance yourself from and condemn someone so long as you continue to claim them as being on your team.
She's still not a good writer, though.
@2, instead of trying to repeat it all here, I suggest you look up some interviews with or writing by somebody like Richard Dawkins or Chris Hitchens about how liberal Christians, by identifying as Christians, are in effective if not intended solidarity with backwards, bigoted Christians and thereby "make room" for them culturally. You can't honestly, unreservedly distance yourself from and condemn someone so long as you continue to claim them as being on your team.
5
God I hate the "I'm not a Christian I'm a follower of Christ" crap. Its part of that whole stupid "its not a religion its a relationship" bullshit.
Look if you believe in magic, got a holy book, and worship and/or talk to a god you got yourself a religion. Thats what the fucking word means.
Look if you believe in magic, got a holy book, and worship and/or talk to a god you got yourself a religion. Thats what the fucking word means.
6
Her life has been one hellish thing after another - I never could blame her for leaning on religion. But I'm glad she's quitting. It sounds like she's stronger and thinking more clearly.
8
I didn't think I could think of her as more of an idiot than after I read her books and met her son. But I sure do.
10
That's sad. Speaking as an atheist, there's plenty worthwhile and notable about the teachings of Jeezus that we could all aspire to without subscribing to the supernatural aspects of the religion. We need more good Christians to represent and counter the hate-crazed, ignorant, misogynist, theocratic submorons who've co-opted the religion for their own social and political purposes.
11
@4 Totally agree. How can you cherry-pick the handful of good things the bible says ("be nice to other people") and ignore the vast number of pages devoted to hate and misogyny? And for those who say Christianity is more than just the bible, well, then, your instruction manual sucks.
12
When I read stories like this one, I am actually somewhat grateful for having been forced to attend church as a child. While it was, on the whole, a pretty miserable experience, it at least served as a kind of "inoculation" against religious credulousness later in life. I was able to get the doctrinal disillusionment out of the way at an early age, leaving my Sundays open for more fruitful pursuits.
13
Oh, geez, where to start? You can be Christian and not believe every word of the Bible. In fact, it's impossible to believe every word of the Bible because there is so much in it that's contradictory. Why? Because it was written by hundreds of different people! Is that so difficult to understand? All these flawed people were trying to explain their own ideas about God and life given what they knew about the world at that time. I choose to reject those negative parts of it that don't match the positive parts. You may say that means I’m not a Christian, but who gave you the right to decide who is and who isn’t?
14
For some it a secular identification and there is no faith in ontological arguments, proof... amount to nothing. It's more about drawing inspiration to seek economic and social justice, without ascribing to some kind of moral or ethical superiority.
By the way, the term "born again" implies conservative, fundamentalist, adherence to a literal translation of divinely inspired "God Breathed" scripture.
By the way, the term "born again" implies conservative, fundamentalist, adherence to a literal translation of divinely inspired "God Breathed" scripture.
15
If she's a follower of Christ, she's still a Christian, whether she belongs to a church or not. Believing in and following Christ is the basic definition of being a Christian.
When I quit Christianity, I quit the whole fairy tale. While Jesus (if he really existed) may have been a great person and quite the liberal of his time, I quit buying into the son of God stuff.
When I quit Christianity, I quit the whole fairy tale. While Jesus (if he really existed) may have been a great person and quite the liberal of his time, I quit buying into the son of God stuff.
16
I glad she did this, but I think Jesus may have been kicking her in the purse just as hard as the conscience.
She wants some of that "Vampires - So hot right now" cash.
She wants some of that "Vampires - So hot right now" cash.
19
@11:
I don't know how others do it, but the church I was brought up in ( a large main stream denomination ) only used the Gospels as their guideline and referred to the Old Testament as tribal memories or something similar. And even the Gospels were acknowledged to be written by people who were fallible and biased so they weren't taken literally. I didn't even know some people took the whole bible literally until I moved across country and encountered Fundamental Christianity for the first time.
That said, I've still given up on Christianity.
I don't know how others do it, but the church I was brought up in ( a large main stream denomination ) only used the Gospels as their guideline and referred to the Old Testament as tribal memories or something similar. And even the Gospels were acknowledged to be written by people who were fallible and biased so they weren't taken literally. I didn't even know some people took the whole bible literally until I moved across country and encountered Fundamental Christianity for the first time.
That said, I've still given up on Christianity.
20
dawkins and hitchens are great, but may seem a bit harsh to the person who rejects the hateful elements of christianity, but still feels a connection to the more positive (seeming) elements. for those, i'd recommend stephen fry. he's as committed to the ideas as dawkins and hitchens, but can be a little less in-your-face and a little more eloquently convincing.
21
I renounce Christianity, but will still go see the play Godspell when a production is done. And watch the DVD Jesus Christ Superstar. And I will still listen to the first few Jars of Clay CDs, but nothing else!
The only deity I now believe in is Geddy Lee!
The only deity I now believe in is Geddy Lee!
22
@20
People always say that, but they seldom if ever give examples, and I really don't agree.
Well, I agree that Stephen Fry is awesome; and for that matter I agree that Chris Hitchens can be a dick sometimes in interviews and adversarial conversations.
On the whole, though, their writings - Dawkins and Hitchens, that is - are generally eloquent, cultured, and deeply rational. They're unsparing, but they shouldn't be sparing. For that matter, Richard Dawkins in person is polite and gentle and generally a really decent fellow. The bad rap they get seems to come more from the notion that it's improper and offensive to challenge people's beliefs than from anything they actually say being cruel or crass - Hitchens' distressingly frequent drunken screeds excepted.
People always say that, but they seldom if ever give examples, and I really don't agree.
Well, I agree that Stephen Fry is awesome; and for that matter I agree that Chris Hitchens can be a dick sometimes in interviews and adversarial conversations.
On the whole, though, their writings - Dawkins and Hitchens, that is - are generally eloquent, cultured, and deeply rational. They're unsparing, but they shouldn't be sparing. For that matter, Richard Dawkins in person is polite and gentle and generally a really decent fellow. The bad rap they get seems to come more from the notion that it's improper and offensive to challenge people's beliefs than from anything they actually say being cruel or crass - Hitchens' distressingly frequent drunken screeds excepted.
23
@22 Well people think saying "there is no god", or not understanding how their pet myth is sooooooo different from others, is incredibly offensive and Dawkins does that rather frequently.
I think PZ explains it best http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/…
I think PZ explains it best http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/…
24
@19 "That said, I've still given up on Christianity."
Yeah, me too. I did try to just focus on the "good parts" once upon a time, but I find it easier to just enjoy life without the guilt, and try to help others where I can, because it's rewarding in and of itself, not because I belong to a group that says to do it.
My favourite book on the subject? The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur, who was an Anglican priest. It's a really good book.
http://www.tomharpur.com/
Yeah, me too. I did try to just focus on the "good parts" once upon a time, but I find it easier to just enjoy life without the guilt, and try to help others where I can, because it's rewarding in and of itself, not because I belong to a group that says to do it.
My favourite book on the subject? The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur, who was an Anglican priest. It's a really good book.
http://www.tomharpur.com/
25
Plus, the "Songs of the Seraphim" t-shirts weren't moving at Hot Topic, and that really makes a person question her faith.
26
@24: Thanks, that does look like a very good book. I like books that delve into the actual history of Christianity.
28
I prefer Anne Rice's vampire books than her Jesus Christ fiction. Jesus isn't meant to be in fiction! He's in the Bible! And I totally disagree with her views. You cannot be a Christian and celebrate homosexuality! It's wrong! It's even condemned in the Bible! People should wise up to that! You cannot be a Christian while following unchristian beliefs! I realize that people have no choice in the matter of being homosexual or straight, but still... scientists were able to make fruit-flies straight! I'm sure that they could do the same with humans if given the right incentive! No, we shouldn't turn our backs on the homosexual community! That is, in fact, very unchristian-like! What we should do is try to help them! Try to show them a better way! Most homosexuals don't even want to be homosexual and yet it's shoved down their throats that it's okay! That they should accept themselves the way they are! Well I say we take a stand! I say we fight and bring these people peace! I say we give them a choice! And Anne Rice should stick to her guns about being a Christian! Or either continue writing her VC books! Either one, maybe both! But what she should stop doing is writing fiction about our lord and savior!
29
.
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 '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 !!!
.
More...
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 '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 !!!
.
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