"I Quit Christianity"- Page 2

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 1:34pm

There are plenty of liberal denominations and sects within Christianity. Rice has clearly just not partaken of them.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 4:38pm

I found this quote on a friends Facebook, and I don't know who said it- but I think this is very applicable to said situation.

"Religion is like language or dress. We gravitate toward the practices with which we were raised. In the end, though, we are all proclaiming the same thing. That life has meaning. That we are grateful for the power that created us. We are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves."

I think Anne Rice should accept that there might not be a set religious belief for her. She didn't feel anything with Atheism, and it left her cold and bitter. She felt overwhelmed by Christianity. But, in the end, maybe she just needs to believe in herself...because her own personality seems to have enough stigmas and connotations attached to it than Christianity or Atheism.

I personally don't believe in God. But, I wouldn't consider myself to be an atheist for a few reasons. One, is that the word "atheist" in Latin means without God. Wouldn't there need to be a God [hypothetically] for me to not believe in one? Two, the word atheist can bring on as much negative attention as a fanatical religious believer: generally, people assume you're stuck in your own ways and know more than others. Religion in general just isn't relevant to my life, but I do not judge those whose lives it is relevant to. But how I feel about a non-believer in God but not being an atheist, is similiar to how Anne feels about believing in Christ. She believes in his teachings, but she's not a Christian. It doesn't even make her a Jew. It just makes her a follower of his teachings, and hey- what's not to like? Non-violence, non-prejudice? Just peace and love thy neighbor?

Sometimes these things aren't that black-and-white. I just hope that we get Lestat back, because I miss him.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 7:25pm

Just because one chooses not to associate oneself with a certain term (be it Christian or atheist) because of the connotations or society has given it, doesn't mean that one's beliefs don't fit the actual definition of the word.

A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ and his teachings. An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in a higher power. There are standard definitions for these words whether or not you choose to associate with them.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 8:29pm

That's true, Taryn, but we don't always feel inclined to accept other's labels.

A devout Christian might object to "bible-thumper," "fundamentalist," "religious fanatic" . . . all commonly accepted terms.

(That being said, I could quibble with romgitsean's etymolgy. "Without any god" (note the lowercase) would probably be more accurate, and possibly less objectionable.)





Updated On: 7/30/10 at 08:29 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 11:31pm

"I just hope that we get Lestat back, because I miss him."

Depends on which Lestat we are talking about. He got really annoying in the last few books in the series. Of course I found the last few books in the series getting a bit over the top and downright ridiculous. I could have done without the whole Mayfair cross-over.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/31/10 at 6:12am

I wish she would revisit the Mayfair Witches. That trilogy was my favorite and then I absolutely LOVED Merrick, which brought the witches and vampires together.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/1/10 at 11:49am

There's also the MCC. There are many gay/trans friendly, woman-supportive churches she can choose.

There are many Mel Whites and Gene Robinsons out there.