Anne Rice and Jesus Christ, By Whitney Farmer – Un Pop Culture

August 25, 2010 Whitney Farmer 16 Comments

Whitney runs a rock music venue on the beach in L.A. She has an M.B.A., and still believes in God.

On July 28^th, Author Anne Rice began a series of Facebook posts which outlined her rejection of Christianity. The following are samples of her statements as posted:

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.
07/28/10

I quit Christianity in the name of Christ on this page so that I could tell my readers I was not complicit in the things that organized religion does. I never dreamed others would be so interested, or that they would feel the need to talk about their own religious struggles. But they do. And the public conversation on… this is huge, and I think important.
08/08/10

She is correct. It is important. It is a question that is worthy enough to spend a lifetime in pursuit of an answer, the pearl of great price. Like with all pearls, it begins first when an irritation becomes imbedded in the ‘mantle’, which connotes either the fleshy part that covers an oyster or the fleshly part that covers us. There is discomfort that calls for our attention.

I have written here before that I am a believer in Jesus. It is a question that was answered long ago. In writing about this issue now, I am not describing what led to my faith but instead am acknowledging a battle that is fought daily. It was only after my belief became my life that I became aware not just of goodness, but of evil. And the most diabolical has come from those who come near to me in the name of the Lord.

Those who have just returned from Iraq understand this reality of war: The most deadly enemy is one that can penetrate your perimeter. If an enemy can get within striking distance, or worse within arm’s length, an attack will hit its mark. It was organized religion that cried out for the crucifixion of Christ that Rome implemented.

One of the most gifted musicians I have seen played at the club a few months ago.  Her performance was so marvelous that we re-booked her and she will be playing again soon. This singer was known for having songs that were powerful and mysterious, with a voice that was deep and rich as she played her guitar and led the boys in the band. About ten years ago, she basically vanished. A surging career disappeared.  But now she is booking shows again. Sometime during the night, her manager told me a part of her story… She had been married to a man who also represented her, and he was a nightmare. Every venue finally closed their doors to her because – as talented as she was – it wasn’t worth the wear and tear to have to associate with her husband/manager. Fast forward ten years. This quiet and talented woman is now divorced and she is getting bookings again.  When she took to our stage, even before the first song the audience was delirious. She stood silent for a long time in front of the sold-out crowd. When she finally spoke, her voice was broken with emotion as she said, “You have no idea how beautiful you look to me from here.” Then she struck a note on her guitar and the set began.

Just because someone uses your name doesn’t mean that they speak for you. And often the worst behaved people at the club insinuate themselves into the VIP section.

What Anne Rice has encountered is post-graduate belief, higher level discipleship. When people first come to God it is because of love. In a world as dark as this it is stunning to learn that we are loved. After a time, our wobbly awe-struck legs gain muscle and need to pursue a mature and deep obstacle course. We are to give love back. Sometimes this comes in the form of speaking truth, sometimes it is setting captives free, sometimes it is in defending the poor and vulnerable.  All of these actions make you an enemy of the power structures of this world, including those who blasphemously leverage the name of God to accomplish their own devices. This war is fought until we are in the dirt.  As life leaves our bodies, we will be known as much by our enemies as by our friends.

I have never met Anne, but perhaps in the end she and I could call each other friends.

Quote of the Blog from Rupert Brooke: “I left religion when I found Christianity. I left Christianity when I found Christ…”