NEW YORK – Anne Rice has had a religious conversion: She’s no longer a Christian.
“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,” the author wrote Wednesday on her Facebook page. “In the name of … Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
Rice, 68, is best known for “Interview With a Vampire” and other gothic novels. Raised as a Catholic, she had rejected the church early in her life but renewed her faith in recent years and in 2008 released the memoir “Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.”
Hillel Italie
Associated Press
Anne Rice is only a minor celebrity. Her statement that she has “quit Christianity” has no more significance than the apostasy of any individual who has done the same. However, it is instructive as her declaration shows so many misconceptions about what Christianity (and what it means to be a Christian ) truly is. Notice the following:
- Declarations of self-will can not be made “in the name of Christ.” The phrase “in the name of” indicates a submission to the will of Christ. If Christ condemns homosexuality (which He does, Romans 1:27-32), we can’t embrace and support the sin in Christ’s name. While we must study to determine what Christ’s will is on any matter (and it is what Christ and His apostles say that matters, not the Catholic Church), we can not speak in the name of Christ unless we are expressing His will.
- The Catholic Church is not synonymous with Christianity. The article gives as one reason for Rice’s determination to quit Christianity, the recent convictions of certain Catholic priests for the crime of pedophilia. Because of the Catholic church’s ubiquity, many consider it to be the authoritative representation of the Christian faith. It is nothing of the sort. It is a digression, an apostasy that does not remotely resemble true Christian faith. Authority is derived from Jesus Christ, not a bankrupt institution that personifies the warnings of apostasy given, for example, by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1-3).
- You can’t be a follower of Christ without being a Christian. You can certainly quit the Catholic church and be a Christian, (in fact it is a must); but a Christian is, by definition, a true follower of Christ. From the first century true disciples have been known by His name. “… and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
What Anne Rice wants is what many want. She desires to pick and choose her own beliefs. Where they coincide with Jesus’ teaching, she will embrace Him; however, when Jesus’ will conflicts with her own, Rice wants the freedom to do as she wishes. Such audacity, … and sadly demonstrated by so many in our society.
It is obvious that Anne Rice is confused, and does not know that what she rejected is not even a pale imitation of what is true Christianity. The article states that she continues to regard herself as a believer. She needs to heed the following: “… He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
