I was contacted by Kirsten Powers Makarv this morning. Kirsten is writing an article for The Daily Beast about the recent decision by author Anne Rice to disassociate from Christianity. Mrs. Rice maintains her faith in Christ, and does so in an authentic and sincere manner, at least through tweets and blog entries. That said, like many, she grew more and more frustrated with “christianity” and has publicly said she wants no part of the religion. It wasn’t a shocking decision to me, as many of us find it hard to identify ourselves as religious people, though we have a relationship with Christ. Christianity is not a sacred term and not a Biblical term so it doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. I’ve only read one response to Mrs. Rice, which I found to be a bit condescending. Regardless, here is the very short e-mail I sent to Kirsten Powers Makary. When her article releases, I’ll tweet a link.
Kirsten,
After spending some time thinking about it, I don’t have much to say. I understand Anne’s decision, and can see her reasoning. I’ve certainly had the desire to disassociate from Christianity, mostly for the hyper-critical, hyper-judgmental persona the religion takes upon itself. More and more, it seems like a worldly religion. That said, though, I don’t know that publicly insulting and disassociating from a faith system as huge as Christianity and as diverse as Christianity is helpful. I am only thankful that Anne has had a wonderful encounter with Christ, and that she wisely differentiates between Christ himself and the rather confusing religion that has been organized since He walked the earth.
Don, I like your letter to Kirsten. It’s one of the best responses I’ve seen to Anne Rice’s decision.
I would have to disagree with you Don, when you say that the word Christian or Christianiity is not a biblical term. The first followers of Christ, just so happened to call themselves that. Beyond that yes, I could really see why Anne and yourself feel the way you do.
It’s not a Biblical term.
He didn’t say anything about what Christians may have called themselves later in the 1st century.
I’m wrong. I apologize.
Christians were named such in Antioch they were named that by pagans it is recorded so in the book of Acts and other places too…
Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16 to name three.
Christianity is just a word for what Christians “believe and do”. It exists only because we are called Christians and it is a natural and normal thing to happen. So the term is Biblical and normal. You can make the case that it no longer means what it used to mean so we need to drop the word, I don’t agree, but you can make that case but the term is Biblical.
I have to say, Anne Rice and those who are like her, are not a credit to Christians. While Christian traditionalists have their faults, Christ has true moral values that are very clear. These moral teachings are distorted by people like Anne Rice.
Its as if the message of tolerance has more weight than the definition of sin. I certainly hope that this isn’t the ultimate goal since it muddies the waters.
These moral teachings have been distorted since Jesus walked the Earth! Ms. Rice and others like her are simply trying to get back to the basics of these morals and UNmuddy the waters. She is not asking for tolerance, she’s standing up against what she believes is wrong with the way the church is today. and she’s standing up with Jesus’ principals behind her! Which is more than most people do these days.
She’s only left the building, not the faith. (Don, if you use that you have to quote me, I’m a writer too).
I really like that Princess. That quote reminds me of one I recently heard “Sitting in church makes you a Christian as much as sitting in a garage makes you a car.”
I think as Christians we all get a little jumpy when we think someone has left the faith…especially someone like Anne Rice. We tend to take sides, you either get real defensive or you do your best to go with unconditional love for that person. I just hope I choose the latter.
Who do I quote when I use this? Princess?
In a religion as large and as diverse as Christianity, there must certainly be some sub-grouping in which Anne Rice would feel comfortable. Her decision brings us back to the choice faced by every dissenter in an organization or movement – stay and try to influence it or leave (and perhaps start something else). Ever since the reformation protestants have almost universally opted for the second choice and now look at all the different denominations. Perhaps the African Bishops dissenting within the worldwide Anglican communion are showing us a good way to stay inside, continue to hold one’s viewpoints in good conscience, and work toward the good of the communion.
[...] in Christ. Since her Facebook post on the subject, folks have weighed in all over the country, from Donald Miller’s blog to my own small-town newspaper, the Ashland Times-Gazette. I was caught by her words, since I was [...]
Just curious. Since this subject gets into issues of debate within a community and frustration toward “them” (whoever “they” might be), I’d be interested to know if anyone in our own discussion here has been influenced by others toward a new perspective.
I am not sure if I qualify here but I have to say that I have learned a lot from this discussion and how people look at certain terms, view people on the so-called “religious right” and the list could go on. I had not realized how powerfully people defined things at Christianity and church for example. Before this discussion I would not have thought people would say I belong to the Church universal but don’t believe in the “religion” of Christianity. I have discovered new vistas for discussion and persuasion within in the church and I feel have gained insight to a segment of the the Church universal that I didn’t know so well before.
A couple of years ago a lot of my home church members were on Myspace and they identified themselves as Christian Others rather than Protestant. Our church is firmly in the Protestant tradition and all the people that identified themselves as “Christian other” believed in Protestant theology. So I was confused and spoke directly with many of them and found out that they had chosen Christian Other because it sounded more post-modern and cool, they seemed more open minded you see then if they were old nasty, closed minded Protestants.
I thought that kind of stuff was just a fluke of culture but now I know it is a deeply thought out position by some. I found that enlightening and interesting even as it disturbed me.
So I don’t know if I have changed perspective as you are meaning it but I certainly am better informed and more knowledgeable than I was before this discussion.
I appreciate Anne’s honesty, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her “Christ the Lord” books.
To speak frankly:
It is short-sighted, and perhaps a little immature (not a derisive term here, but a descriptive one) to leave Christianity in the name of Christ.
In the name of Christ, the Jewish-born Son of God who would have had every right to leave Judaism in the name of the God of the Jews, but who both submitted to its precepts, while breaking some of it’s laws. Either way, he never stopped calling himself a Jew because there were bad Jews.
In the name of Christ, the one who promised his Church that he would never leave them or forsake them.
In the name of Christ, whose final prayers were that his Church would be one.
In the name of Christ, whose command to love one another probably also meant to stick it out with one another when there is deep frustration.
How can I do something opposite to the character of the One in whose name I am acting? Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. These aren’t disconnected principles given to individuals for a pleasant, independant life. They are commands of Love given to a body of believers who would want to run from each other when they got frustrated with one another.
So Anne can say that she’s not a Christian. I’ll just pray that she comes through to a maturing of her Christian faith.
“If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
Anne Rice returns to the sepulchre of her mind
http://conversationwithcrombette.blogspot.com/2010/08/anne-rice-returns-to-seplechure-of-her.html