Anne Rice, author of all of our favorite vampire books such as Interview With The Vampire has left Christianity.
In her own words: she refuses to be “anti-gay,” “anti-feminist,” “anti-science” and “anti-Democrat.”
Rice wrote, “For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian … 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.” [CNN.com]
It sounds as if she has left “the church” but perhaps not the figure around which it was built. We have all pretty much set up our own rules as his. And because we have set them up, they differ from place to place. Only the Bible is universal.
This writer has left the Episcopal Church that spends too much time revising language and the order of the service, working on a schism within the Anglican community over homosexuality and other things removed from going among the people and helping them. They call it outreach and throw a few dollars at it. Out of touch is more like it.
Many of the issues she mentions have touched her personal life and that is what has brought home what the church has done more vividly. It is a sad commentary that she will probably prosper more fully outside the ranks of the rankled than further repressing her soul under them.
©On My Watch…the writings of SamHenry. Registration pending.
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DarcsFalcon
July 31, 2010
You know, from what little I’ve read about this (I caught her FB post on a few other blogger’s posts) it sounds to me like she never was a part of Christianity. I think it sounds like she was part of the Catholic Church, which is NOT the same as Christianity. NO church is the same as Christianity.
I saw one blogger call Rice a revolving-door-slammer and that line just cracked me up. It seems to me like she is trying to remake Christ in her own image – He should be Democrat, He should be pro-gay, etc. Too bad His will on anything is not nearly as important to her as her own.
samhenry
July 31, 2010
It does appear that she is being kind of Job-like in this challenge. However, I must say if it is organized religion that she dislikes, then I am with her. Jesus would be horrified at what is happening in churches these days. His word is the most important thing. I love the “slam the revolving door” line – it’s great. I think her son is gay and that must drive this issue for her.
Well, I leave her to God.
DarcKnyt
August 1, 2010
Christ, if she has not abandon Him, is the One from Whom she can hear about His rules. Apparently, no one else is qualified to tell her, despite the fact they’ve been written down for as much as 4000 years.
I’ve always been dubious of Anne’s “conversion” anyway. She went all super-Catholic, for one thing, and wrote queer-vampire books before that. I’m not a rocket scientist or anything, but it didn’t take an advanced degree in psychology to see we were going to have a difference in perspective on things. I sort of knew this was coming and have been surprised she’s lasted as long as she has.
Nevertheless, I also can’t help but wonder if this is pandering to her still-clamoring fans — AND to her still-dwindling bank account — so she can get back into the (very, very) popular vampire genre now, while it’s hot (again) and there’s a lot of Stephenie Meyer cast off money to be made. Like remoras hovering around a shark’s mouth, Anne may not be the big fish anymore, but there’s enough left overs to go ’round.
Oh well. I never liked her books anyway.
samhenry
August 1, 2010
I found her books boring. I have only one. I deaccessioned it from my library immediately. I worship the One and only God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost but I am against organized religion. It is a long story and amazingly I am not up to telling it this day. back pain keeps me flat and out of my computer chair.
I think you have her motives down. Meeting on a Darc’s eye view of former Christains adjourned. Does this mean we can go out for ice cream? Sorry, trying so desperately for someone to deliver me from this diet. Diets are like organized religion. They tell you what to take in and what to by pass. Some of what they tell you to bypass can actually take you to new places.
samhenry
August 1, 2010
Sorry for typos. Not time to edit. Good to see you DK
roxannadanna
August 1, 2010
Well now that she’s left Christianity, she should have no problem discussing her “Beauty” books – written as Anne Rice.
For the longest time, she refused to discuss them with interviewers and all but disavowed them. It was as though she was ashamed of herself for writing them. It made me feel less respect for her for doing so.
samhenry
August 1, 2010
I’ve never read more than one of her books and found that boring. In the few interviews I have seen of hers, she impressed me as someone who had a cog missing. I think she has just left organzied religion – at least that is how I interpret it but who knows with someone like her.
roxannadanna
August 1, 2010
The “Beauty” books (a trilogy) are erotica. And I mean… EROTICA. lol
I didn’t even attempt to read her vampire books. My daughter has. It’s just not a topic that’s interesting to me. I’m more of the Karl Rove- Mark Levin – kinda reader..
samhenry
August 2, 2010
I used to be too young for erotica. Now I’m too old! I’m getting bored with vampires. I watched “The Gates” last night. Ugh. CSI, NCIS and all those other initials are better.
samhenry
August 1, 2010
Roxi – I’m turning into People Magazine over here don’t you think?
roxannadanna
August 1, 2010
I like reading everything you post. And thanks to you and DK, I learned something new today. I had no idea about all this stuff.
samhenry
August 2, 2010
Roxy I am so honored (and I mean this sincerely) that you like everything I post. I feel the same about you. I have had a bad week for blogging. I love DK and love being in the same sentence with him!
blackwatertown
August 2, 2010
I’m surprised that someone so forceful in character should surrender the field. By that I mean that it seems she has agreed to accept that the definition of Christian means all those things she finds objectionable – rather than continue to dispute them. Or to put it another way, she could express it like this: I haven’t left and won’t leave the church/Christianity, it’s all those other guys (Popes, prelates, leaders, whoever) who are traducing it.
samhenry
August 2, 2010
I agree. She should have stood her ground. However, stand your ground too much and you get thrown out. If a Catholic – the Pope has several weapons in his arsenal. I hate organized religion but like politics, you can only go forward as a voter not a radical.
Actually, I still go to the occasional service and I don’t much care what church or synagogue. I live near a wonderful monastery and I go there for peace and a private word or two between readings. The monks who can talk are very good to me. They let me take a book and pay later! I try to stay open-minded yet keep traditional ways and values at my side. I don’t make sense this AM. I am hampered by severe back pain.
blackwatertown
August 3, 2010
Sounds like perfect sense to me. Peace and meaning is where you find it. Once I had certainty, now I have interest.
samhenry
August 3, 2010
You do express yourself so well. I love this “once I had certainty, now I have interest. I can’t even turn an omlet that deftly.