Anne Rice is quitting Christianity

[abelisle]

Anne Rice, the famous author known for her vampire fiction and then her conversion to Christianity with her book on the young Jesus has announced on her Facebook page that she's quitting Christianity. But it's not quite what it seems. Read what she wrote:

"“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.”

And then later, she updated her status again…

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.

Currently her status is…

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ” Gospel of Matthew.

[Bravus]

Definitely know how she feels.

[aldona]

Definitely know how she feels.

Me too.

AJ

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Anne Rice, the famous author known for her vampire fiction and then her conversion to Christianity with her book on the young Jesus has announced on her Facebook page that she's quitting Christianity. But it's not quite what it seems. Read what she wrote:

"“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.”

And then later, she updated her status again…

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.

Currently her status is…

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ” Gospel of Matthew.

Poor soul.

[GreatLakesGramma]

...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....

Strange.... I've never felt pressured within the church to be any of those things.

[John317]

"“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.”

And then later, she updated her status again…

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.

Currently her status is

Confused.

She's got something wrong with her thinking.

What it seems to be coming down to is that people are having to decide whether to agree with society or with the Bible, and all-too-often they are deciding to go with society.

The Bible's condemnation of homosexuality does not mean Christians should be anti-gay. If some Christians are anti-gay, that doesn't mean I have to either join them or quit being a Christian. The same thing applies to all the other things she mentions. She needs to study the Bible and the history of the Christian church.

Now if she said she is quitting Christianity over the Sabbath/Sunday issue, I would tell her there's no need to quit Christianity but to come into the SDA church.

[DeeAnna]

Are you serious ??

In the church here.........and I am speaking of SDA --- there is almost overwhelming "pressure" to be Republican, ( because they are the party of morality, they think, or so they say ), to be anti-gay, because being homosexual is an abomination to the Lord, and secular humanism is really talked about as being a very bad thing, and to be pro-science is to be anti- God !

If you were in the Catholic church, you could add the birth control issue.

It's not hard to understand her confusion and disappointment with so called

"Christianity". In my view, most people have NO clue what it means to be a real Christian.

[DeeAnna]

Are you serious again ?

The SDA church is not the only church to keep the Sabbath. Also, you don't have to be an SDA to keep the Sabbath.

[Guest]

I never knew she became one, or called herself one. Oh well.

I'm a Christian, and I'm not anti any of those things.

[John317]

Are you serious again ?

The SDA church is not the only church to keep the Sabbath. Also, you don't have to be an SDA to keep the Sabbath.

You're right that the SDA church is not the only church to keep the Sabbath. But it is the only church that connects the Sabbath to end-time events and understands the relationship between it and the mark of the beast.

SDAs learned of the Sabbath from the Seventh-day Baptists.

It's true you don't have to be SDA to keep the Sabbath. If you thought that was my meaning, it isn't.

My meaning is that the SDA church is the only one teaching the Three Angels Messages in relationship to the Sabbath.

[John317]

Are you serious ??

In the church here.........and I am speaking of SDA --- there is almost overwhelming "pressure" to be Republican, ( because they are the party of morality, they think, or so they say ),

I don't know where you live but that has nothing to do with anything. Adventists are not obligated to join any political affiliation. In fact, SDAs don't have to vote at all. It's no one's business but your own. I don't care what others think of my political views,and I don't try to find out what other people's political views are at church because I don't care what they are. I don't remember ever being asked by any church members-- except on this Forum-- about my political views.

If people want to talk about it here on the Forum, fine-- but I have never felt any pressure at church to join a particular political party. The only time it is brought up is when it relates directly to religious liberty, and even then, you don't have to vote a certain way or even vote at all.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

to be anti-gay, because being homosexual is an abomination to the Lord,

This is not true. I am a non-practicing homosexual. I have never been told by anyone in the SDA church that "being gay" is an abomination to the Lord. The truth is that the Bible strongly condemns the practice of homosexuality. I haven't practiced since 2004.

It is true that some SDAs believe that all gays should be castrated, but that doesn't mean we have to agree with such views. In any case, those views are not in harmony with the church's views.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

and secular humanism is really talked about as being a very bad thing,

Secular humanism is wrong insofar as it tries to take God's place or encourages people to disobey God's laws or lose faith in the Bible as God's word.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

and to be pro-science is to be anti- God!

Depends on what you mean by "pro-science." I know many scientists who are SDAs and active in the church. I'm definitely not anti-science.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

If you were in the Catholic church, you could add the birth control issue.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

It's not hard to understand her confusion and disappointment with so called

"Christianity".

On some of the subject you've brought up, such as its view of homosexuality, Christianity hasn't changed at all in its views. It is society that has changed. God's truth doesn't change according to human society's standards.

Originally Posted By: DeeAnna

In my view, most people have NO clue what it means to be a real Christian.

I agree that many people don't. I'm not sure about "most people."

But I know that those of us who believe we do know what it means to be a real Christian have a greater responsibility to act on our knowledge.

Real Christians don't change or cease being Christians because of social or political pressure. If they'd do that, what would they do when the real persecution happens?

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains." John 9: 41.

[Dr. Shane]

In the church here.........and I am speaking of SDA --- there is almost overwhelming "pressure" to be Republican

Subscribe to Liberty Magazine and you will no longer feel pressure to become a Republican.

[Dr. Shane]

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.

Sounds like she was hanging out with the wrong Christians. Sounds like she was hanging out in apostate Protestantism that doesn't know the difference between church and state.

Poor thing. Probably a lot of others that have lost faith for the same reason.

[DeeAnna]

Oh, I have NEVER felt pressure to be Republican.....what I was saying is that most SDA's and professing to be Christians are Republicans ---- I am a Democrat and believe me.......that is seen as a bad thing -- as bad as any of the other sins one can think of....LOL.

I wonder how many Christians would really do some of the things Jesus did.

Talk to the people he did, be loving and accepting of people who aren't like them, etc.....it's no wonder people don't understand Christianity..they don't see it in practice. They only hear about it in words. Many many words....no action.

I live in Tennessee.

[John317]

I have two sisters and most of my family in Tennesee. Near Chattanooga, to be exact. Most have been there since 1985, having moved from Loma Linda, CA. I'm still here with a few cousins.

Some of the things you say, I hardly recognize as being the way the SDA church is, and I've been in close association with it since the early 1950s, being brought up in an SDA town if there ever was one, worshipping in SDA churches in about 10 different states, and going through two SDA universities.

I was out of the church for many years but I would attend church with family and I was never in rebellion against the church or its doctrines. I simply wanted to live in the kinds of sins I loved practicing and I didn't believe there was any way I could stop. But for the most part my experiences in the church have been very positive. I have great memories growing up in an SDA family and in an SDA town. I'm very well aware of the problems in the church, but the positivse far outweighs the negatives. I thank God for the SDA church and for the SDA message. God has put love in my heart for all Adventist people.

[Dr. Shane]

Well, I think it is a bad thing to belong to either political party. I have never felt any pressure within the Adventist church to belong to any political party. I have felt pressure from some "historic" Adventists to not vote or be involved with politics at all. I normally vote a split ballot. This fall I will be voting for a Democrat Congressman and a Republican governor. I vote for the man/woman and not the party.

[DeeAnna]

Well, I can tell you I am not making up anything or exaggerating any of the things I've said. I have listened to more Democrat bashing by SDAs than I care to talk about...LOL. Remember when Kennedy was running for President ? My church was so sure he was going to enforce Sunday laws because he was a Catholic.....Democrats seem to really upset the local SDA's --- the health care issue really bothers them....I'm thinking those are for self-serving reasons, though, since most around me are in the medical field and likely to be impacted financially, they think.

Anyway....all that aside --- just so you know....I, too, have strong ties to the church -- and really would be hard pressed to ever leave it -- but I don't see it as wrong to point out things that cause problems for people in the hope that they could be changed, not simply ignored or swept under the rug.

The Adventist church is truly blessed --- just don't think it's perfect.

[LifeHiscost]

it's no wonder people don't understand Christianity..they don't see it in practice. They only hear about it in words. Many many words....no action.

I live in Tennessee.

I don't come from Tennessee but where I do come from I see many people who communicate Jesus by the way they live. Some are married to people who don't reveal any desire to become Adventist, and they're still happily married.

Some day when the rules are made plain in the lives of the individuals who see no good reason for putting a damper on sinful conduct, as described in the ten commandments, how they behaved for the many years behind them will determine whether they will be willing to die for the sake of acting like Jesus, Whom they have claimed to serve as Christians.

"And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.

The nations shall walk by its light and the rulers and leaders of the earth shall bring into it their glory.

And its gates shall never be closed by day, and there shall be no night there.

They shall bring the glory (the splendor and majesty) and the honor of the nations into it.

But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life."Revelation 21:23-28 GNT

Blessings!!

[DeeAnna]

I understand that !

Yes, I've heard the same thing from the "historic" Adventists around here about politics and not getting involved at all !

I think that's wrong of them. But, that's just my opinion.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

what I was saying is that most SDA's and professing to be Christians are Republicans ---- I am a Democrat and believe me.......that is seen as a bad thing -- as bad as any of the other sins one can think of....

I never thought of Adventists being all Republican. I know a lot of Adventists who are Democrats. What difference does it really make? You should vote for who you think will do the best job.

[SivartM]

I've seen almost all of those antis just on this forum. I'm quite glad for her. If she can't get along with "quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous" people, she's better off than them.

[Bravus]

I think in discussing a story like this that perhaps we all fall short of balance. Some reject any critique of the church, claiming the problem is entirely with the person, while others do the reverse.

Perhaps reality lies in between: the church, being made of humans, is noble but flawed. It has flaws, and it's unhealthy to shut our eyes to them.

On the other hand, we're each accountable to be challenged by the gospel, and to find ways to overlook the human flaws to see the divine purpose of the church.

[Dr. Shane]

Dumping the church because of its erring members is much like throwing out the baby with the bath water. That said, many evangelical churches make popular political crusades part of their primary mission. Adventists, as individuals, may have opinions on political issues but I don't see the church, as an organization, jumping on any populist, political wave.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Are you serious ??

Absolutely. Of course, what other people think or do isn't very important to me. I don't discuss politics or other controversial topics with anyone who has expressed strong opinions contrary to mine, except here once in a while.

Every Christian to whom I have mentioned that my son is gay has been totally non-judgmental, though many disagree with homosexual behavior, as I do myself. Of course, I don't tell haters of gay persons about him. In fact, I tend to avoid that type of person entirely. I am not comfortable around hostile, judgmental people.

Maybe that's the whole reason I don't have problems with the people in the church. I guess I gravitate toward quiet people, because I'm a quiet person.

[Neil D]

Hmmmmmmmm........I see a lot of conservative people on this board saying "I'm not the problem."

I know, I should be looking at myself....But I am aware that I am MOSTLY not anti-gay. I draw the line when it comes to personal gay activities. I'd like to think that I think more like a progressive democrat than a conservative republican....And I look at the thinking and how a person arrived at thier conclusions rather than their declarations....And the SDA church does vote republican, due in most part, [and this is from my experience observing other people from west and south Eastern parts of the US] that they are literate and look for more precise wording....[iOWs, be sure of what it says and go by that rather than what you think it says] ...Shoot...look at who posts what here on the board....everyone of those "anti-[insert problem of choice"] is echoed by someone here....Anne Rice is not the only person who is wondering and wandering...