Gothic author Anne Rice has had a long and difficult road in search of religious truth and it is doubtful that her travels have ended. But she has made a significant change of course recently. She has left Christianity for the second time.
As author of the Interview with the Vampire series known as The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice has cemented herself in popular culture. The books are decidedly atheistic and have re-imagined the vampire myth without the fear of crucifixes and holy water for the modern generation. Rice left the Roman Catholic Church at the age of 18. But in 1998, after Rice nearly died in surgery and later went into a diabetic coma, she returned to her childhood religion.
In a very public statement, Anne Rice dedicated herself to “glorifying God” and began working on her “Christ the Lord” book series. It was hard to imagine how someone who wrote the famed Vampire series could return to Christianity. It certainly confused many of her fans. It wasn’t just a return to religion, but the ferocity of that return which really made some of her fans scratch our heads.
On July 28th, Anne Rice posted on her facebook fan page that she is quitting Christianity. However, she is not necessarily leaving belief in God or even belief in Jesus. The statement is a little puzzling, but Rice makes it clear that her departure from religion is not theological as much as it is moral. Here is what she said:
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.
She followed that status update up with this update an hour later:
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.
While Anne Rice has quit Christianity, she has not yet returned to atheism and secular humanism. But this is at least a strong step in the right direction and may inspire others to re-evaluate the morals that Christianity indoctrinates.
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Comments
Thanks for sharing... because I feel moved to "quit" reading Rice's books! Sounds like Ms. Rice has a problem with Biblical authority and the Bible IS the foundation of Christianity. I pray that Ms. Rice will see things more clearly in her search for the truth.
Anne Rice was never "in" Christianity. And, she is certainly not to be considered a measuring stick for the truth of Christianity.
Sorry about only getting Anne half way, will keep trying. In other news I may have Billy Graham on the fence! Hope to have a break through by Solstice. Stay tuned.
Thank you Ivnative and drwillzook for showing us some of the attitudes that DROVE Anne Rice from the your ranks!
Steve-n-SA
It was her prejudice that caused her to turn her back on Christ. In time she may come to her senses.
She doesn't want to be associated w/ the Pharisaical legalism part of the church has become. That's quite understandable. I'm glad she can distinguish between being fed up with the church, and being fed up with Jesus.
Read it again Kevin, according to her, she didn't leave her belief in God or Christ (which is unfortunate in my opinion), she left the hypocrisy of the Christian church (which still is an improvement). So she didn't, in effect, "turn her back on Christ". And it was prejudices that she was leaving behind.
As a Christian how many other Christians have you forced to abandon faith because you are quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous. If this is your stock-in-trade and way of life, today you need to stop and change. May God help you as you make serious effort to turn over a new leaf, Amen.
Obasola Shoderu, actually quite a lot. My formula for de-converting Christians is discussed more on my daily blog, but I will probably write an article on it pretty soon or the Atheism 101 series. Look for it.
Does Anne Rice leaving Christianity mean that her vampire characters will no longer shy away from the cross?
>:^)
I would so like to believe that I could come back in 2000 years and see how many of these people are still hanging off the edge of the Earth. Maybe they will have come up with a cure for this disease by then.
Hugh, In Anne Rice's vampire stories the vampires weren't bothered by the cross or holy water. That was one of the atheistic aspects of her books that I really enjoyed growing up. I do wonder if she will publish the third "Christ the Lord" book.
I really like Hemant's (Friendly Atheist) take on it:
I don’t like it when people distance themselves from “Christianity” because many of its followers hold unpopular views.
That’s like me saying:
“I quit being an atheist. I refuse to be a dick. I refuse to treat religion with contempt. I refuse to be anti-clergy. I refuse to be anti-Republican. I am done with atheism!
Oh, and by the way, I don’t believe in god."
Anne Rice is a Christian. She’s trying not to be a jerky Christian, which is all well and good, but she comes off sounding like she’s above the fray when, really, she believes in much of the same (nonsensical) things that all other Christians believe.
Good for her. I'm happy she's found her answer, or at least part of it. Those were my reasons for leaving the church as well...but I left god and "his" child there too.
I think it has more to do with the fact she wants to write vampire books again because the money is calling.
Javier, I strongly disagree with Hemant on this (as do most of his readers). De-conversion isn't something that happens overnight. Rice is on a journey toward de-conversion and this was a significant step in that journey. I don't think her journey is over just yet. Also, her very public criticism of Christian attitudes shows that she puts morality above her religion and understands that morality is not derived from her religion. Putting this out there to the public does a lot in helping people start to think critically about their religion. I call it a win.
Actually Kate, she is writing Angel books. Coming out against Christianity probably won't help her make money.
Here is info for Rice regarding "anti-feminist" (granting distinctions between the Bible & the Christian "religion" & also that the definition of feminist can vary)
In the Bible we find that males & females were both created in the image of God, women had the right to own land, receive inheritance, were prophetesses, judges, disciples, deaconesses, teachers, worked & owned their own businesses, were present at the day of Pentecost, books of the Bible are named after women, women were the first at the empty tomb while the male apostles were hiding in fear.
While Pliny the Younger was Governor of Bithynia in 112 AD he wrote to Emperor Tarjan referring to Christians he writes of “two female slaves, who were styled deaconesses.” This again demonstrates a continued Christian practice of having women in leadership & teaching roles; to whatever extent.
Some dismiss these facts & refuse to be confused by facts, dismissing it by asking about things that pertain to roles & not to ontolo
Oh yeah, here are the references:
Genesis 1:27; Exodus 15:20; Numbers ch. 27; 2nd Kings 22:14; 2nd Chronicles 34:22; Job 42:15; Proverbs 31:16; Isaiah 8:3; Judges 4:4; Luke 2:36; Romans 16:1-2; Acts 1:12-14, 2:1, 16:14, 21:7-9, 9:36, 18:26; Titus 2:3-4.
She has left Christianity, but in her own words, didn't "leave Christ."
I don't know about the rest of the real rational of us but I think she's just some kind of cop out and no less a liar than the religious have always been. The evidence speaks for itself. "I remain committed to christ but not to christianity". Either she is a liar or she is truly delusional. After all those vampire books she might have gotten mentally ill.
Kind of reminds me of Jane Fonda embracing "gnostic" heresy.
What it appears Miss Rice has done is to turn away from the legalism that is the Church of Rome in order to find true, and personal meaning of what it is to follow Christ. Mohandas Gandhi once remarked of Christianity; "I like their Christ, but not their Christian." Why would he say that? Simple: he knew, just as Miss Rice is finding out, that to be a consistent follower of Christ is to turn away from dogmatic legalism framed under the guise of religion.
Religion can come in all manner of guises and not have any connection to Christ, yet call themselves Christian. In Christ's time, the Pharisees and Sudducess would be the equivelent of the todays Roman catholic faith; heavily biased towards legalism and and works as opposed the the faith in God through Christ that Jesus taught in his day. It's about a personal relationship, one on one, not using intercessors and the "hoops" they would have one jump through in order to demonstrate one's belief (i.e. 'works-based').
In my humble estimation, Miss Rice is not on the way back to atheism. On the contrary, she is still in her "walk of faith" as we Christians put it. It is not uncommon for individuals to be at odds with a doctrine or theology that gives them more questions than answers and cause them to leave a particular denomination, yet still acknowledge their belief in a Supreme God of the Universe and his human incarnation Jesus of Nazareth.
While the atheist does not wish to acknowledge it publically, Christianity has long been regarded as a world-view based on reason and rationality.They (the atheist) only wishes to point out the injustice and cruelty done in the name of a particular religion as the antithesis of their argument for non-theism. But as reasoned and rational individuals, theist and non-theist alike, we are both aware that a worldview cannot be judged by its abuses or social impact. Any worldview has to be viewed from the standpoint of what are its truths.
In the case of Miss Rice, her search (even after 10 years) is only begun. And as she looks to find the answers to the deep moral and philosophical questions she has with regards to the Christian worldview she holds to, may we be in agreement that she be given the time to search out the truth and follow it to its logical outworking...wherever it leads.
It sounds to me like she just wants to stop being a Roman Catholic, not a Christian. There are Christian Denominations out there who welcome homosexuals and who don't promote anti-feminism. Episcopals anyone? There are plenty of female preists and (I wouldn't say plenty) but several gay priests in the Episcopal Church.
She's not really turning her back on Christianity,she's becoming a Unitarian Universalist. We're all big fans already so she'll be right at home. I have been a long time fan and a short time UU'er.
You go Apologistnky: You hit the nail on the head. Most of the things she mentioned are NOT biblically sound.They may be catholic but not sound biblically.You can read and look all over the word and not find any of it,therefore it is not what true Christianity is about.True Christianity adheres to the word of God (which supports most of the things Rice believes) not religious tradition and if you don't follow the bible you are decieved. The word of God is the source of truth.Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life, No one comes to the father but by me".so in that sense Anne Rice is right .Follow Jesus miss Rice and you will be saved and at peace.
Thank you Atheist Examiner for your generosity in allowing me to post without registering. The Lord bless you and keep you.
Congrats Anne, you didn't actually quit being a Christian (Christ follower) you quit what man has established as a distortion of Jesus' teachings in the form of organized religion. The Catholic Church is a sad institution cloaked in rules and requirements that make it what it is. True faith and salvation is found in relationship with Gods son Jesus. Not in a religious church membership that requires works to find God.
Welcome to Freedom Anne. Glad you released yourself from a corrupt and controlling system based in shame.
Thank you Atheist Examiner for your generosity in allowing me to post without registering. The Lord bless you and keep you.
I quit Christianity, too. I didn't necessarily become atheist but I cannot tolerate organized religion and their bike blessings and their quick to judge attitude. I am spiritual more than religious. I follow Anne on Facebook, too. I read her comments a lot. I think that it is a follow up based on all the Catholic speeches and the firing of the sister...
Thanks for all the Christians in my life who judged me before time and continued to judge. Please leave the judging up to millions of Christians worldwide instead of leaving it to God (sarcasm).
you rock, Anne Rice! Being genuinely spiritual and connected to All That Is sure has nothing to do with following a contentious relgion filled with anti-gay, anti-woman rhetoric. That is for damn sure, lol. Great column!
Tosha, SF Spiritual Examiner
Anne Rice did not "leave" Christianity. In her post she still follows "Christ", believes that Jesus is still her deity and messiah. There are some who say if one does not follow a specific church than they are not a Christian. Frankly, this does not make sense. If one considers the NT as their bible then this person..like it or not is a Christian. Rice is angry with the Catholic Church and rightly so but she is a "Christian". What the woman should have stated was "I am leaving organized Christianity".
I too have left religion and embraced spiritually. I strive to be non-judgmental, but itis sometimes hard when a "born-again{"- approaches me. I have moved beyond the beginning, and am trying to follow the words. "Inasmuch as you do this for the least of these, my brethern, you do it unto me" I look for the good in everyone, and I understand that we are all connected. I try to help lift up the stumbling and the fallen, without jumping into quicksand with them. I ask my higher power every day to teach me and reveal to me what I am ready to learn. I plan to continue my search for truth and knowledge. I cannot accept a faith who preaches against abortion, but not incest,who sends young men and women to war to unlearn all that their mothers taught them, and are willing to put human beings to death who may well be innocent. It seems that pro-life should mean everyone. I agree that at this point in my life, the Universal-Unitarian church appeals to me.
Yes, we must rehabilitate her and bring her into the pristine logic of Atheism and Secular Humanism. I too need such rehabilitation as there are moments when I forget that in reality I am an Atheist and a Secular Humanist. At those moments, what am I? Please help me not think about those moments.
Check out my interview with Ms. Rice: www.examiner.com/x-32233-Modesto-Apologetics-Examiner~y2010m7d31-Interview-with-Anne-Rice-on-leaving-Christianity
How can you leave Christianity and believe in Christ..doesn't make sense. When you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you are a Christian. She has a problem with organized religion. When you are weak in faith this is what happens. Believing in Jesus with total unconditional faith & trust IS the only answer to understanding. The devil sure has a way of getting to people...and YES there is such as thing as evil.
Couldn't have anything to do with the collapse in sales of her books, I guess.
Go watch Agora, now at a theatre near you, and you'll quit Christianity as well! Being a part of a hateful, intolerant, blood-thirsty, and ultimately power-hungry mob like the Christians are is unbearable for anyone who has a real conscience or morals of any kind.
Like it or not Christianity is on the decline in the U.S. The American Religious Identification Survey found that 86% of American adults identified as Christians in 1990 vs. 76% in 2008. It's unfortunate that Christians get caught up in judgment, when Jesus clearly tells us not to judge (take the beam out of your own eye, before trying to remove the speck in your brother's--Matthew 7:5). http://naivechristiansdontgetrich.com
Many believers and non believers certainly have one common trait, neither have faith. Both see the world through the eyes man. Christian evagelists are good at spreading the word while atheists say prove it, it's an arument that has gone on for ever. The blind cannot leed the blind. Only one who has faith in Jesus and has been reborn can answer your questions because this person does not see through the eyes of a man but the eyes of Christ . One who has faith will share with you, the truth, the way and the life. When you ask what heaven is like he will say; the thrown of god is not like the kings of man here on earth. God's thrown is the kingdom of heaven and the pillars of his temple are built of those whom have faith in Christ as god. He will tell you the streets are paved with gold and clear as quartz glass for he knows all who stand on these streets of gold stand on the truth and all things are revealed. He will tell you the river that flow down the middle of the street is the water of life and it's beginning starts with Jesus whom is in the midst of the thrown of heaven. He will tell you about the book of life, that the names in the book are the words of god and Jesus is the life. Is your name holy and do you speak the words of Jesus , do you know the truth, the way and the life. He will tell you in heaven all things will known to you, but he whom sits in the midst of the thrown has all power and by his will alone do you even exist, that the size of heaven is measured with a golden rod for the foundation of heaven is built on the truth. Forget all that you have learned and pray to Jesus for the truth and the truth you shall receive and you will see heaven as I do and bow before his feet and you will see god. If both the atheist and Christians do this they shall have faith in common. You must excuse me my brain tumer is itching.
Prove it!
Proving it will take a little time. I do all things through Jesus he strengthens me and you are asking me to move a mountain and the truth you shall see.
If you are waiting for Jesus to help you, then I will never get the proof you promised. Christians have been trying to prove their ridiculous story for over two-thousand years and so far the best they have come up with has been Anslem's Ontological Argument.
Anne Rice is correct
Faith-in-Christ is NOT tied
to man-controlled 'Religion'
A RELATIONSHIP w/ God (as given
VIA CHRIST Jesus, God The Son) is
NOT reliant on "church" or “religion”
If Christ were on earth today, many
religious-types would ‘still’ seek to
crucify Him (just based on who He
chose as His FRIENDS -- women,
gays, foreigners, the rejected, the
poor, rich, old, young, etc)
The "evangelical" ilk (not to be mistaken
for any TRUE FOLLOWERS of Christ)
and other "church" types have basically
hijacked the Christian-'Faith' of love
to turn it into a mammon-worshipping,
power-mongering "Religion" of hate
They are more akin to being ANTI-CHRIST
(“against”-Christ) than anything related to
WHO CHRIST IS and their evil has reached
such levels that ‘All Who Love Christ’ are
turned off from these self-righteous Pharisees
GOD (thru CHRIST) HAS OPENLY
SHOWN HIS LOVE TO 'EVERYONE’
(no matter if rich, poor, gay, straight, male,
female, sickly, healthy, etc) VIA CHRIST
(not the so-called "church") WHO IS
'THE DOOR' and 'THE WAY' TO GOD
ALL ARE WELCOME TO APPROACH and
ENTER THROUGH 'THE DOOR' TO GOD
JESUS CHRIST LOVES EVERYONE
AND REJECTS NO ONE
John 3:17:
“For GOD did NOT send His Son
into the world TO CONDEMN
the world, BUT that the world,
THRU HIM, might BE SAVED
JESUS CHRIST (not “church”
or “christianity”) IS THE WAY
THE TRUTH and THE LIFE
TRUE ‘FAITH’ RELIES IN
AND IS BASED ON JESUS
AND JESUS CHRIST ALONE
First, your writing style is annoying. Second, blah blah blah, your a true Christian while some other people professing to be a true Christian really isn't. Please see the "no true scotsman" article in the Atheism 101 section.
dfg
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