About a week and a half ago, celebrated novelist Anne Rice made waves – first on Facebook and Twitter, then in international media coverage – for quitting the Christianity that she had joined about a decade before. Quoth her Facebook page:
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.
Holy Explosive Declarations, Batman! This all sounded familiar, as she’d denounced atheism half a decade previous with similar passion and articulation. I should know – I was there. Five years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Anne for Relevant Magazine after her profession of Christian faith and the launch of her Christ the Lord novel series. She was in nearby Birmingham, Alabama, for an incredible night of conversation with a priest, a rabbi, and a Baptist pastor. (The feature article was never online at Relevant, but an unabridged version can be read at the Burnside Writers’ Collective site.)
So naturally, with the impact of her current declaration, I couldn’t resist catching up with Anne and asking her what’s changed since we last spoke – and what’s stayed the same. You can hear the results of this far-reaching conversation right here on Homebrewed Christianity.
Let me know what you think!
(Two details: Our interview starts at the 7:40 minute mark, though the witty introductory repartee between Chad Crawford and Ryan Parker is definitely worth listening to. Also, I committed a significant faux pas in my fast-talking introduction to Anne before our interview; I mistakenly identify her current Angel Time series as her “return to vampires.” This is not the case; its a metaphysical thriller involving angels, but not blood-suckers. Sorry.)
I’m no Anne Rice, but you can follow me on Twitter @zoecarnate and on Facebook here.
zoecarnate 
Hey, Mike … very nice interview. Anne is such an articulate woman and spokesperson for the many who “like Jesus but not the Church” … and who have been thrown down the stairs by Christians.
I am a FB friend of Anne’s and have been following the conversation from day one. I am thrilled that FB has given her control over what she is really saying … and resonate with her enthusiasm about it allowing her to be quoted correctly.
…looks like I’ll have to pick up her new series — maybe when the boys go back to school in September ;^)
“the witty introductory repartee between Chad Crawford and Ryan Parker”
Witty? Well, I guess that all depends upon what the word “is” is, eh.
Hi Mike… succinct & good questions for Anne. Nice interview. I have a newfound respect for Anne Rice. The word integrity comes to mind. How many folks are cultural Christians but harbor beliefs that are not orthodox and remain firmly stuck in their religious situation because of the repercussions to family or their comfort zone? Many, I am sure. What a statement: that she will not let anything (including the Church) separate her from her relationship with Jesus.