Lily Burana, Salon: Anne Rice can leave Christianity, but I'm staying

[Amerigo Vespucci]

For what it's worth, I agree with the Lily Burana. I define my beliefs...they are not defined for me. My theology is my business, and it is not spoon-fed to me by my church or anyone else.

I understand Rice's point of view. She had her own way of dealing with it. Her way is not my way. It doesn't need to be.

:patriot:

Anne Rice can leave Christianity, but I'm staying

Homophobia and hatred may have pushed the writer from the church, but I refuse to let those people define my faith

By Lily Burana

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 14:01 ET



"God" is a loaded word. "God" is a loaded gun. Of all the taboo talk points — sex, politics, religion and money, it's God that clears the room quickest. But earlier this week, when the subject came up on the Facebook page of beloved Gothic novelist Anne Rice, it drew a sizable crowd.

"Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out," Rice wrote.

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 10 years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else ... 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.

The Rice controversy has offered many frustrated progressive Christians an entry point into a crowded conversation about faith. I think it's more than just coincidence that in the days prior to Rice's post, Facebook was dotted with "likes" for the group "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car." There's something in the air about this.

Interestingly, Rice is running out for all the reasons that I'm running back in, called to a fiery, deeply felt place where rage and devotion intersect. I, too, resent the way homophobic, misogynist, hypocritical and otherwise unbearable people are laying claim to "true" Christianity. But unlike Anne, I don't want to punt. I want to fight.

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. As long as were talking for what it's worth

I could give a shit whether the OP or Rice embrace Christianity. I really do not care.

[rrneck]

2. That'll work too. nt

[katandmoon]

3. Victor Garber was the cutest Jesus.

[HuckleB]

4. It all seems like a diversion that only helps the Cons kill America, in the end.

[trotsky]

5. "I want to fight."

So many decent believers say this, but what exactly are they doing? They continue to give their time and money supporting the institution, claiming to be "fighting it from within." But they're simply feeding the beast. You have to hit it where it hurts: the pocketbook. Leave the church, like Rice did. Take away your money and support. If liberal believers are truly the large group they think they are, it will make a huge impact and will change things a LOT quicker than this mamby-pamby "I'll stay and fight" nonsense.

[Goblinmonger]

6. The mixed metaphor at the end kind of ruins the punch, IMHO.

That aside, how exactly is the quoted author going to change things? What major shifts have we seen to the left in major Christian sects? My advice is much like trotsky's: stop giving your money and body count to a church that you don't agree with. Find one that you do. I know the UUs will gladly take you.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Well, the Episcopalians have a woman presiding bishop and have

consecrated a couple of gay and lesbian bishops with only a small minority of members dissenting. Considering that they didn't even ordain women till a little over 30 years ago, I'd say that's a move.

[PanoramaIsland]

8. UUs, Buddhists, Quakers, Yoists...

There are plenty of religious/spiritual sects which don't require one to be a raging asswipe.

[arKansasJHawk]

9. "I define my beliefs...they are not defined for me."

Sorry, but the very act of self-identifying yourself as a "Christian" means that, from the start, you've let someone else define your beliefs for you.

Here are some of the people, in case you are wondering, who have defined your beliefs:

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Or, rather, the various anonymous writers whose works have been assimilated into the Biblical texts popularly known as the Gospels. Everything you think you know about the life and divinity of the man named Jesus originates with these sources.

Approximately 220 attendees of the Council of Nicaea, who codified and authorized the version of the Bible that nearly all self-identified "Christians" recognize as "The Word of God."

[struggle4progress]

10. I certainly understand dear Anne's upset at having to deal with members of a "quarrelsome, hostile,

disputatious and deservedly infamous" group. But as far as I can tell from history, we humans have always been "quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious and deservedly infamous"

:shrug: