# Anne Rice renounces Christianity but remains a Christian **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599 "2010-07-30T17:27:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/21 "2010-07-30T22:11:17Z")
I lost interest after realizing Jesus and Judas weren’t going to make out in her Jeebus books. The Vampire Chronicles is what prepares 13 year old girls to read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy when they’re 16. That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/22 "2010-07-30T22:46:03Z")
That’s funny, I was just in my local Borders a few days ago where they had Anne Rice’s book **Called out of Darkness** prominently displayed in the biography section. The book details her return from the darkness of her life back to Catholicism. I guess she is ready to return to the underworld. I wondered how she could be so pro-gay in her books yet be Catholic, I guess she could not resolve those conflicts. > **[Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession: Rice, Anne: 9780307388483:...](https://www.amazon.com/Called-Out-Darkness-Spiritual-Confession/dp/0307388484)** > > Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession \[Rice, Anne\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/23 "2010-07-31T15:52:05Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Mmmm…I’ve seen her attitude before with some people raised Catholic. (And IIRC that’s what she converted, or rather reverted to.) My husband has it, as a matter of fact. > > They just can’t see any denomination of Christianity other than Catholicism being “true”. They’re newbies, Johnny-come-latelys, and lack the authority that comes with being The First Christian Church. Only the RCC “counts”. > > So when she became disenchanted with the RCC again, she didn’t really have the option in her mind of moving to a more liberal denomination. The RCC had branded itself in her heart as The Only True Church, so she couldn’t take any “lesser” ones seriously. > > This is only my supposition, of course, and I know that there are people who convert from the RCC to Protestant churches, and are devout and happy in their new denomination. But as I’ve said, it’s an attitude I’ve seen more than once before, and I would not be surprised if it’s true here. Thank you for this post. It helps to explain what otherwise makes very little sense to me. I still don’t get the “I refuse to be anti-Democrat” remark, though. Haven’t Catholics generally leaned toward the Democratic party? ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/24 "2010-07-31T15:58:16Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Maybe she’ll write something worth reading again now. Has she ever? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/25 "2010-07-31T16:23:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Someone didn’t check out the United Church of Christ, among other denominations. Most of those beliefs are practically written into their bylaws/articles of faith/whatever. I’m a christian agnostic who belongs to the UCC,and I agree with this. I would only qualify that individual UCC denominations can choose for themselves whether to be open & affirming of homosexuals or not; most are, but a few are not. As each UCC denomination owns its church building and can decide its position on matters of faith & morals for itself, regardless of what the national body thinks, I’m not sure whether the matter will ever sort itself out one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![clnilsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecccb3/32.png) [@clnilsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clnilsen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/26 "2010-07-31T16:47:05Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > The Vampire Chronicles is what prepares 13 year old girls to read the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy when they’re 16. That’s about it. You, my friend win one Internets. And I say that as a recovered Anne Rice fan. (15 years on the wagon woo-hoo!) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/27 "2010-07-31T16:49:21Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Maybe she’ll write something worth reading again now. Again? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/28 "2010-07-31T16:54:29Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > There are plenty of churches she could join that would fit her. But there’s nothing categorically wrong with her choice to be a Christian believer outside all formal Christian institutions, is there? I’ve met or known several people who have described themselves as exactly this. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/29 "2010-07-31T17:01:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > > > Mmmm…I’ve seen her attitude before with some people raised Catholic. (And IIRC that’s what she converted, or rather reverted to.) My husband has it, as a matter of fact. > > > > They just can’t see any denomination of Christianity other than Catholicism being “true”. They’re newbies, Johnny-come-latelys, and lack the authority that comes with being The First Christian Church. Only the RCC “counts”. > > > > So when she became disenchanted with the RCC again, she didn’t really have the option in her mind of moving to a more liberal denomination. The RCC had branded itself in her heart as The Only True Church, so she couldn’t take any “lesser” ones seriously. > > > > This is only my supposition, of course, and I know that there are people who convert from the RCC to Protestant churches, and are devout and happy in their new denomination. But as I’ve said, it’s an attitude I’ve seen more than once before, and I would not be surprised if it’s true here. > > See TVTropes page: [Christianity Is Catholic.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChristianityIsCatholic) Attributed to Martin Sheen while he was in a state of doubt- “I’m a Catholic agnostic. I’m not sure there is a God but I am sure that Mary is His Mother.” ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/30 "2010-07-31T17:03:47Z")
What does “anti-life” mean? How can one be anti-life? Does it refer to suicidal people? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/31 "2010-07-31T17:09:05Z")
Oh sure, there are any number of Christian churches out there that she’d be comfortable with, but that’s not the point. Where’s the impact in saying that she’s become a Unitarian or Episcopalian? This is all about the dramatic sweeping statement, this is about publicity, this is about Anne Rice’s fading star and getting the spotlight back, if only briefly. What this has nothing to do with is religion. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/32 "2010-07-31T17:11:39Z")
She’s made the common mistake of equating “The Church” (the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members) with the people who are in the church. There is a big difference. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/33 "2010-07-31T17:32:42Z")
“I want to sound controversial!!!” "Buy my stuff!!! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/34 "2010-07-31T22:45:22Z")
There is one problem with her joining a liberal Christian church- her testimony in her Jesus books shows her to be committed to a literal view of the Creed. Most churches that are liberal in politics & sexuality also are liberal in their creedal views. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/35 "2010-08-01T00:39:05Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Maybe she’ll write something worth reading again now. Isn’t she rather old to start doing something new? /The possible snarky responses to this quote are innumerable. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/36 "2010-08-01T02:10:37Z")
> [@Anne Rice](#): > > 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. But she doesn’t refuse to be anti-stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/37 "2010-08-01T02:27:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@Anne Rice](#): > > > > 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. > > But she doesn’t refuse to be anti-stupidity. How is she pro-stupidity? I am not being snarky; I don’t know much about Ms. Rice. I read Lestat and the Beauty Trilogy, but little else. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599/38 "2010-08-01T02:56:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Clothahump](#): > > > > > [@Anne Rice](#): > > > > > > 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. > > > > But she doesn’t refuse to be anti-stupidity. > > How is she pro-stupidity? > > I am not being snarky; I don’t know much about Ms. Rice. I read Lestat and the Beauty Trilogy, but little else. In **Clothahump** ’s view, anyone who believes in God is stupid. I’ve read the first 5 books in her Vampire Chronicles, but gave up after _Memnoch_, when she started getting wayyyyy more religious and mystical. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anne-rice-renounces-christianity-but-remains-a-christian/548599.md?page=1)