The interwebs have been all a tizzy over the past day or so, as Anne Rice declared on Facebook that she was renouncing Christianity. For the sake of Christ.
My take on it: chill out, people.
First, it seems that she is couching some things provocatively (and it’s working, people are provoked). Given how she has couched things on her Facebook page, it is clear that she is not giving up on her faith in Christ. It’s clear that she’s not suddenly disbelieving the resurrection of Jesus or the value of his death. This is not a renunciation of her Christian faith. She is wrestling with how to follow Jesus when the world of Jesus’ followers seems so often incongruous with the kind of community that should be bearing Jesus’ name.
Second, it does seem that she may be distancing herself from all or most Christian community in this effort. I do see that as a mistake. Jesus came to save persons by joining them to a people which is his body on earth. So for all its imperfections, the “church” is a crucial part of life following Christ.
I, of course, resonate with the struggle against the establishment. But I have to keep coming back to the notion that I can’t simultaneously love Jesus and profess hatred of his wife. That relationship isn’t going to last very long.
Do I think Anne Rice is renouncing The Faith? No. Clearly not.
Do I think she has some important points she’s drawing attention to? Yes. Certainly.
Do I think she is taking the right course? I’m not sure what, exactly, she’s done, so it’s hard to say. It looks like she could do better by exercising some patience; or, by exercising her impatience as a prophet from within.
Ditto.
Thank God for Anne Rice. The courage to speak her truth. May God grant me the same courage.
I am listening to an interview with Rice on NPR about the announcement right now, while restraining a deep urge to yell at the radio: “THIS IS NOT NEWS!”
I’d love to hear your thoughts after she’s done (apart from what you’ve already not shouted.
The interview went on for over 8 minutes (!!!) and I had to get started on dinner, so I’m just now getting back to it…
I thought this was the most interesting part:
“Oh, I miss the mass, terribly … I miss taking communion. But holy communion is a communal meal, and I no longer belong in that community.”
On the one hand, it strikes me as respectful, even noble, to refrain from partaking in the eucharist if you cannot in good conscience identify with the community which is formed by that meal.
On the other hand, it strikes me as very sad that someone who professes devotion to Christ would reject the invitation to his table. One might hope that the personal experience of eucharistic piety might be strong enough to keep a person tethered to the Church long enough to make peace with the parts of it that break her heart.
I hope she gets thirsty.