Anne Rice of sensual vampire fame has rejected Christianity. She is still committed to Christ but said she is fed up with his followers. Interesting concept. From USA Today:
Novelist Anne Rice says she’s quit being a Christian but she’s hanging on to Christ. She’s just fed up with his followers.
The author, whose vampire books (i.e. Interview with a Vampire) were huge sellers long before Twilight and whose return to her childhood Catholicism dominated her more recent works, posted a series of comments on Facebook (confirmed by her publisher as authentic, according to Associated Press).
For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.
The mother of novelist Christopher Rice, who is gay, goes on to say:
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.
In a USA TODAY profile of Anne and Christopher, Rice talked about growing up Catholic, drifting away as a teen and marrying an atheist. After the death of a young daughter, she began writing her vampire books,
…about lost souls looking for answers, so in a sense I was always on this journey back. I do get people saying, “How can you be such a fool to believe in God?” I sense many are young Goth kids who feel abandoned. I just say, look, you’re looking for the same things that I was, transcendence and redemption. I found what my characters were looking for.
Even now, as she tosses off organized religion, Rice posts that she’s still
… an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God … Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become
.
Perhaps people who continually try to drag religion into public policy helped nudge Ann Rice to this position.
I couldn’t tell whether the article was saying that Anne Rice was homosexual, or whether Christopher Rice was homosexual. So much for clear writing. But, of course, the next question (or perhaps even the first question) was why, in the context of the story, the sexual orientation of either was relevant.
Interesting point. Perhaps she is defending her son? I knew there was an Anne Rice and have read several of her books. I didn’t know she had a son or that he was gay.
I agree, it was confusing. I found it interesting that she was rejecting Christianity but not Christ. What an odd way of expressing discontent with how Christianity is being practiced. A follow up story at USA Today said several churches had reached out to her as being more positive. One was Church of Christ.
Reactions: (From USA Today)
Who is Elizabeth Scalia?
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
– Ghandi
A follower of Christ is by definition a “Christian.”
I read a couple of Anne Rice’s vampire books years ago–marginally interesting, cultish, gratuitously violent and sloppily written. The earth will remain firmly in its axis from her non-momentous declaration.
“The mother of novelist Christopher Rice, who is gay, goes on to say..”
That’s exactly the kind of awkward writing typical of Anne Rice books. The reporter must have attended the Anne Rice School of Grammar.
“Perhaps people who continually try to drag religion into public policy helped nudge Ann Rice to this position.”
Or perhaps Anne Rice hasn’t been getting much attention lately.
Maybe she doesn’t want attention. I know many people who really object to the militant Christianity some folks spout when they want to drag their religion into the public square.
I always had a hard time finishing the few books of hers that I read.
I’m wondering if she swore off the royalties from her occult books and movies when she rediscovered Christianity. It would be a very significant hypocrisy if she did not, as Catholics–and very many other Christians– consider any participation in occult practices to be a grave sin.
Hmmm, don’t guess anyone here ever read her “Beauty” series under a pseudonym?
I loved her first Vampire chronicles book! I was a total fan eons ago. As far as Christianity, and religion in general, I get her point. Christ espoused beautiful teachings and yet I am not sure that his message is truly followed.
I believe the Twilight author is a practicing Mormon. I feel certain she is enjoying her royalties. Not sure about
JK Rowlings. How about Dan Brown?
@Elena
>>> “…series under a pseudenom?”
A what?
I think you know what she meant. @ Ring. You never do typos? Aren’t you the lucky one.
I fixed it for her.
@Moon-howler
This seems like an attention-getting move. She could have simply stopped going to Church without making a public announcement. Not sure why the public should care what Anne Rice believes ….
Soooo, in other words, she’s just going to continue being a typical liberal democrat. Ok, then.
Kind of narcissistic of her to think that we care.
And the Beauty series was…..interesting.
Anne Rice and Thomas Jefferson came to much the same conclusion.
@Moon-howler
>>> I think you know what she meant. @ Ring. You never do typos? Aren’t you the lucky one.
Thnak yuo!
She made a comment on facebook like millions of people do. I expect she has a huge fan base. It would be like Stephen King making a similar statement. Anne Rice, from what I gather, was also known for her Christianity and for living in a spooky house. Go figure. I don’t keep up with her.
Cargo, not sure how she votes or if she votes. For all I know she might be a Palin fan.
@kelly3406
>>>Not sure why the public should care what Anne Rice believes ….
Authors of fiction are smarter than we are. So are actors and movie producers. Their opinions are infallible.
You didn’t know this?
I liked the The Witching Hour, enjoyed the vampire series as well. And I read the first book in the Beauty series as well. Serious porn it was.
This weekend’s Parade had a quote from Ozzie Osborne, which I greatly appreciated. When asked if his new album was intended to be political, he responded: “I’m not the Bono of metal. If you’re an entertainer, be an entertainer. If you want to be a politician, join the rest of the ****s.” I would like to see entertainers of all stripes follow this sage advice.
On that note, be sure to read an excellent write-up on Ken Cuccinelli called “Mr. Right” in this weekend’s WP magazine. I was surprised to find such a sympathetic piece about a conservative in the Washington Post.
@Ring, Opinions re just that, opinions. They are neither right or wrong.
I get irritated when people cannot separate fact from opinion. The ability to distinguish between the 2 has been a 4th grade language arts skill for the past 30 years.
In general: Anne Rice was expressing her opinion. She is neither right or wrong. I thought her opinion was interesting, or more precisely, she expressed her opinion in an interesting way.
I knew I wasn’t spelling it correctly, but figured I was close. No time for spell check at the time!
So, “spelling police” 😉 ……….. pseudonym
How about Dante? it doesn’t get any more occult than SATAN.
Emma,
Seriously? You are messing with us right? It’s fiction!
Cargo was right. Anne Rice is a Democrat and Obama supporter.
http://www.newser.com/story/96846/author-anne-rice-i-quit-christianity.html
@Moon-howler
>>>Cargo was right. Anne Rice is a Democrat and Obama supporter.
Guffaw! She writes about, and supports, those that suck the life out of you!
@Ring, at least those that admit they do rather than give those the false sense of security, and still suck the life out of you.
@Moon-howler
>>> @Ring, at least those that admit they do rather than give those the false sense of security, and still suck the life out of you.
#1) You’re wound too tight to appreciate a joke.
#2) subject / verb / predicate: That generally makes an understandable sentence . Being that I only graduated the 3rd grade, maybe you can rephrase your post.
“4th grade language arts skills” (see post #23)
Anne Rice has been a very successful novelist. I have loved all her books.
Her novels started declining after she parted with her original editor. Queen of the Damned was the last novel with her former editor. The books that followed weren’t as well written.
@Ring, perhaps the wrong person missed the point here.
The remark was intentionally encrypted in response to your ‘humor.’
And I feel certain you can distinguish between fact and opinion.
BTW, why are you the self-appointed spelling and grammar police these days?
We tend not to pick at people about that.
Hmmm…Starry, are you a vampire fan?
Vlad is reading this blog with increasing interest.