She didn't decide to not be a Christian. She decided not agree with or associate with people whom she finds repugnant. Which may actually mean she's not a Christian after all.

"My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me," Rice wrote. "But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been or might become."

The teachings of Christ more than impy that Ms. Rice should spend some time associating with people who are "not her", and perhaps "worse" than her, from her peculiar point of view.

Having said that, finding a Chrisitan church that embraces all the points she appears to take value in wouldn't have been that hard.

"In the name of ...Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."

And becomes a true follower of Christ in the process.

As Carlin said: Buddha and Jesus are two guys who went around telling the world you didn't need organized religion. How did the world show how well they learned? They started faiths built around them.

Sounds like someone has another book coming out. Nothing like drumming up some good publicity beforehand about your personal life.

Christ didn't say about following his followers--that's a red herring. But he was all about the church, and discipling, and building the body of believers. Anne Rice feels she is better off not associating with the body of Christ, and there's a good chance the feeling is mutual. There are, literally, tens of thousands of churches that profess the Christian faith, but also advocate abortion, gay marriage, birth control, and secular humanism. She would be welcome at any of them. If their attendance is anything to go by, they need her there.

No, this is just another "Christian" who would rather make other plans on Sunday morning, then blame the beliefs of others for not wanting to put them on her social calendar. Good riddance.

Vampires for Jesus!

She just needs some new friends.

I never really knew there were hard rightwing Catholics with the tolerance of a Killer Bee until I started hearing rightwing Catholic radio out of Ave Maria University down here in Florida.

These people are nothing like Catholics I have known before, and if her friends are like them no wonder she's upset.

Sounds like someone has another book coming out. Nothing like drumming up some good publicity beforehand about your personal life.

She does, but ironically it is one of her "Christian books." She long lost her Vampire fans. I do wonder what she is thinking.

Welcome!!

I think her issue is with organized religion and the Pat Robertson types. If you read her full tweet you get the impression that she can't consider herself a "Christian" in the orgainzed sense as she differs on the Religious Right's take on various social issues. She needs to read some Jim Wallis or others of similar minds to realize that the Religious Right's take on social issues isn't very Christian at all.

She joined a Catholic church and thought they were Christ Based? WTF? The Catholics are the reason I didn't belong to ANY church for decades. When I found a group of people who love Christ and all his children is when I finally saw Christ at work. It is when I found that prayers ARE answered.

The Catholic Church is a political organization. While there are christians in the church, they are the exception rather than the rule.

When I meed someone who truly hates Christians, it usually turns out they are recovering Catholics. Hear that Shmoe?

Love the sinner, not the sin.

Marty

There are, literally, tens of thousands of churches that profess the Christian faith, but also advocate abortion, gay marriage, birth control, and secular humanism.

Oh boo hoo, how terrible. You realize that there is more than one way to interpret a loose collection of tribal myths, don't you?

The real question - probably the one that Rice is struggling with - is whether there are any churches that profess the christian faith but lack self-righteous assholes like you.

Good for her

I posted this mainly because it is a great example of someone leaving an organization without leaving what attracted them to it in the first place.

Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been or might become...In the name of ...Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.

This is news? This is front page DR news?

Another day, another anti-christian thread for RCADE to promote to the front page.

Funny how the "tolerant" left constantly attacks what they call "in your face" Christianity, but promotes gay pride parades/homosexual teachings in schools.

I didn't know this made front page.

Another day, another anti-christian thread for RCADE to promote to the front page.

This is an interesting thread and not "Anti-Christian" per say which is why I posted it. I don't post anti-any faith threads. I thought her reasoning was interesting and worthy of discussion. She is leaving the Christian faith to follow Christ.

Why is this news? Some lady who writes books I don't like talks about her faith...boring.

If the Pope says this, it's news...Hilarious news at that. Until then I see no reason why this is even being talked about.

"Another day, another anti-christian thread for RCADE to promote to the front page."

You sound like you dind't manage to get your ojos past the headline:

The novelist Anne Rice announced last week on Facebook that she was quitting Christianity, later clarifying that she remains committed to "faith in Christ."

That pressure building between your ears? Could be a side effect of your pantaloons wadding up.

For the Recrod: RCADE CHANGED MY HEADLINE. I originally included that she was still "pro-Christ" in my title to show this was not a religion bashing thread.

#14 | Posted by kanrei at 2010-08-02 11:11 AM | Reply | Flag:

She has very sound reasons for leaving organized Christianity. Pastors landing helicopters on their church roofs hardly fits the Christian belief system.

Extremists of every religion/non-religion usually get the press while the members who make every effort to practice what JC preached go un-noticed.

Who gives a flying fuck what this twit twatted?

Once again, I did not post this to bash any faith, but to discuss whether organized faiths really represent what they claim. I am Jewish for example, but belong to no Temple. I believe that G-d is everywhere so I don't need to be anywhere specific to speak to Him. We see what organized Islam can do and what organized Christianity can do. Hell, my faith created Zionism which is about as evil as evil comes.

Are the leaders of our respective faiths leading us to G-d, or away from G-d in the name of their own power? I tend to think it is the later.

#15 | Posted by e_pluribus_unum at 2010-08-02 11:14 AM | Flag: Probably gay

Funny how the "tolerant" left constantly attacks what they call "in your face" Christianity, but promotes gay pride parades/homosexual teachings in schools.

"away from G-d in the name of their own power?"

And Bingo was his Name-O!

Love of money and Love of power.

I would imagine liberal churches are only rare in rural areas. They're all over, and a large percent of Christians aren't the right wing hate mongers she associates Christianity with. Sounds to me like she's just trying to get her name in the news.

Another day, another anti-christian thread for RCADE to promote to the front page.

Read the goddamn article. It's not anti-christian.

If anything, it is critical of the sanctimonious assfucks who turn people away from christianity.

Now that we have heard from Ann Rice and she has out total attention, I think another worthy, Doris Ferndocker, is as equally profound on the subject as Ann surely is.

Any other nominations?

Organized religion and organized global warming both have much in common.

For once a person decides to be honest with themselves first, they can no longer say they "believe".

"Christians have imposed their militant religiosity on teh culture since Saul becamse Paul...."

Not historical, of course. Pliny the Younger once wrote the Emperor Trajan about how to handle the Christians in his province. This was long after Paul. He noted that they weren't really "doing" anything at all, hence the problem he had.

How did it all resolve? Christians were persecuted and brutally killed in their tens of thousands largely because, though law-abiding in the extreme, they didn't follow the cult of the Emperor.

#27 | Posted by ZombieHunter at 2010-08-02 11:43 AM | Reply | Flag:

When did I say the article was anti-christian? I said the THREAD. It always turns anti-christian no matter the article. Thanks for playing. Go back to worshiping ALGORE and MMGW - your invisible sky gods.

My point was only that there are thousands of churches whose views mirror hers. They probably need her fellowship as much as she needs them. She could easily find one, if it were important to her.

But whatever. I do think it's funny how people leave a church for not catering to whatever doctrinal whims they're holding onto at that particular moment, and their defenders say it was because the church itself is self-righteous.

The Christian faith has survived two millennia of Anne Rice's, and will survive many more. Good luck with the new novel.

Saul persecuted the Christian "cult faction" of the Jews... the Jews didn't like Jesus because though he was popular they wanted another militant like David... then Saul changed his mind and and name... became a defacto leader... even at the objection of Peter (who actually met Jesus in the flesh)...

BTW Christianity qualifies as a cult:

If you take the teaching of Christ as a foundation some segments of the Christian religion in America are anything but Christian. Rice is far from alone in thinking that.

You would have thought though that her return to the Catholic faith would have been a bit more solid than coming to the point of throwing it all away again five years later just because she disagrees with what a lot of non-Catholics do and believe. Seems to me she is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Maybe she'll go backing to writing more books in the vein of the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. J

The label Christians came from those outside the faith anyway. Not all "Christians" follow Christ. Not all those who follow Christ are "Christians".

I don't understand what is so hard about all of this. We were never meant to be "Christians" in the first place.

First of all, Jesus stated, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." He did not say he is the leader of some group called the "Christians."

All he says was that he is the way, walk like him, talk like him, live like him, die like him, rise like him. That's it.

That is called following. It has nothing to do with the term those who followed were labeled in the term "Christian".

Who cares I have never heard of this tramp. Xtians are stupid anyways.

i think its funny that people need churches and pastors just to tell them how to understand a book.

i applaud this woman for leaving behind the hate and staying with her faith.. bravo!

jesus preached love everyone
modern churches preach hate all who differ from the church

Well the fact that I can not find a single Christian sect that is truly about Christianity helps me understand her reasoning. Catholics are not the best or the worst. Plenty of others way off the deep end. I am curious why so many sects and Christians are so full of hatred and intolerance. To the best of my understanding that is exactly the opposite of what he preached; "Turn the other cheek" and all that.

#39 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2010-08-02 02:04 PM | Reply | Flag:

Most people lack a context to understand what is being said and why, and to who.

You would be one of them.

You have a false impression of what hatred and intolerance is. Some things are not to be acceptable, and although tolerated, are to be urged to be changed, for the sake of that person.

Just because something does not jive as you wish it to, does not mean that it is intolerant of you, or hating of you.

When it comes down to it, some things are right, some things are wrong, Jesus clarified that. To sit from outside of the context of what he was saying and think you have it figured out is quite the false supposition to make.

#40 | Posted by ExpsRedemption

What a stream of BS. What are you babbling about? I don't have a false impression of hatred. Intolerance and hate are pretty obvious creatures.

What did Jesus clarify for you and how do you know? Did he tell you personally? I am just curious. I would not be "one of them". I am quite knowledgeable about the world and Christianity. I have sat within the framework.

Hitler was a Christian.

"Any other nominations?"

#28 | Posted by 3853177z

You.

#42 | Posted by TylerDurden

Good Point.

Does Ann Rice want recognition for figuring out what most people figure out during childhood?

When I was a kid I figured out that I valued Jesus' teachings even though I thought much of the Church dogma was contradictory and that many people in the clergy were much worse people than I am. Later on, I started questioning not just organized religion but all religious belief in general.

I decided to continue being a decent human being anyway and still think that there is value in stories about Christ..

Hitler was a Christian.

#42 | Posted by TylerDurden at 2010-08-02 03:21 PM

Jefferey Dahmer was a Democrat.

When I was a kid I figured out that I valued Jesus' teachings even though I thought much of the Church dogma was contradictory and that many people in the clergy were much worse people than I am. Later on, I started questioning not just organized religion but all religious belief in general.

#45 | Posted by Sully at 2010-08-02 03:30 PM

#41 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2010-08-02 02:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

In the words attributed to him. Unless of course you don't believe anything in the scripture is anything that Jesus said.

Of course that would make you the one likely to claim that Jesus told you personally.

Jesus clarifies that certain things are acceptable and certain things are not acceptable. If you are having trouble figuring it out, look to the sermon on the mount.

Unless of course you don't believe anything in the scripture is anything that Jesus said.

I don't. I believe it is based on it, but it was an oral story for years before being written down, then translated, then re-written, then edited, then translated again, then translated from the translation, edited again, and translated once more.

"Hitler was a Christian...."

Hitler was a vegetarian.

It's impossible to actually be a Christian (i.e., be a believer predestined (chosen) by God, called by God, justified by God, and subsequently glorified by God) and quit being a Christian. It's entirely possible, and quite common, for one to profess to be a Christian...even be deceived in thinking one is a Christian...and then quit what they thought they were.

Once you are you always will be; if you are no longer, you never really were.

"37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:37-41

If one does not accept what Jesus declares, they have not seen (comprehended) Him and do not possess eternal life until God effectually calls them and they do come to Christ.

#49 | Posted by kanrei at 2010-08-02 04:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

That's great. Not up on textual criticism? So much for the world view that if it looks like it came from here, and it continues to look like it came from here in this form, it must have come from here in this form (evolutionary thought and the processes of origins)

Secondly, although your opinion in appreciated, it does not sufficiently answer the question rendered to Spacey Pete in his given context.

"It was an oral story (Jesus) for years before it was written down...."

No one's at all sure that's true.

Grits Mit Uns

Funny how the "tolerant" left constantly attacks what they call "in your face" Christianity, but promotes gay pride parades/homosexual teachings in schools.

#15 | Posted by e_pluribus_unum at 2010-08-02 11:14 AM | Reply | Flag: Needs his Depends changed.
Sounds butt-hurt-someone dissed jeebus....

Wahhhhhhh!

"It was an oral story (Jesus) for years before it was written down...."

No one's at all sure that's true.

#53 | Posted by Zed
You have a reading comprehension problem? Of course it's true-the first writings on Christianity were done in the LATE first century, CE.
Considering how little water there is in the ME-MOST of what they drank was beer and wine.
That's right!
Your precious bible was written by a bunch of alcoholics!

You have a reading comprehension problem? Of course it's true-the first writings on Christianity were done in the LATE first century, CE.

It may well have been much earlier, given contextual and papyrological evidence.

By much earlier, read well within twenty years of the Resurrection.

I think her issue is with organized religion and the Pat Robertson types.

#10 | Posted by taxman

Pat Robertson and his ilk (aka John Hagee) are zionist Israeli-firsters who love war and will sell out their own country for personal riches/intentionally misquoted biblical texts.

Zionists are smart ... they'll get Christians and Muslims killing each other, then take over when their enemies are dead/weak.

That's too bad, anne.
God didn't quit being your God. He is the faithful creator who made you and he will miss you for eternity.
But

Ezek 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezek 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Ezek 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
Ezek 33:14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
Ezek 33:15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezek 33:16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

good for you Anne! Another bright individual sees the horrors of christianity and bails on it.

It's not surprising either, seeing as the smarter one is, the less likely one believes in fairy tales like "god." And, that Anne Rice, is mighty smart. Obviously this is a great first step for her to renounce all organized religions as greedy political machines trying to control their subjects. This country would be so much better off if we could delete "in god we trust" and stop brainwashing our youth to this fiction.

She didn't decide to not be a Christian. She decided not agree with or associate with people whom she finds repugnant. Which may actually mean she's not a Christian after all.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2010-08-02 10:11 AM | Reply | Flag:

Good point.

Lets see:
Christians have a creed and they are:
1. Love God
2. dont disrespect God
3. Don't worship Idols
. Keep the Sabbath
5. Honor thy father and mother.
So, you don't want to honor your parents, why not?
6. Thou shalt not kill. So who you going to kill?
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery - Planning on a hot date?
8. Thou shalt not steal - Don't you have enough stuff, Anne?
9. Thou shalt not lie - plan on going into advertising or something?
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house or wife - Anne don't you have enough stuff?

So because you want to be accepted by pagans who hate God, you are going to give up the christian creed and start to have idols, swear, ignore Gods name and character, break the sabbath, dishonor your parents, lie, steal, kill commit adultery outside of first marriage and covet other peoples goodies?
Sounds like an insane life.

The locusts now eat your house.
so be it amen.

Did you ever read deteronomy 28?
You better read it to see what happens to peole who publicly reject God.

Think bout it, repent, and you will be accepted.

Maybe you can get some of your friends in adultery to repent and learn to be happy to instead of living in pure selfishness. (they say: I dont care what God wants, it feels good to me)

Anne, you can choose the path to destruction, but the path to happiness and caring for others andunselfish lifestyle is much more fulfilling.

re: "You better read it to see what happens to peole who publicly reject God."

Perhaps you will throw the second stone as well...

"The locusts now eat your house."

Yes or no: did Mahallaleel live 895 years?

As Rice said, "Following Christ does not mean following His followers."

And RichardRhine could not have affirmed her statement any better if he tried.

Just for the record, Rich, Rice didn't reject Christ; she rejected you and the American Taliban who you represent.

I think you had a blog where you posted angry tweener metal and fumed at the man. No one interested?

Is that why you are back at the blog you were banned from under a new stupid name, a trespassing liar on a successful blog?

Just a casual reading of this thread so far...I'll go back and do my homework later.
First impressions, though, are that Zed and Rightisright are seeking new definitions of "shallow" and "self-absorbed".
(Zed, frankly you should take stock again, as you don't want to be in that company. You DO have a brain, after all. No, really, I've seen it in action.)

And, of course, as if on cue, Rhine spams us with the Ten Commandments, some Ezekiel (which applies to us HOW?) and the Gospel of John?!?! In order to...???
Seriously. EZEKIEL?!?!
2500 years ago, this guy is writing from exile, and he's oh so valid to us now?
Oh. Right. Because Rhine can use him to make his point. Sort of.

Face it. Anne Rice has been unimpressed. Not with Christ, but with his followers.
Twas ever thus.
She gave it a full-hearted try, but it was the religion itself, and it's adherents, that put [antiquated] doctrine over the real message.
Twas ever thus.
And you just don't get it.

Not that it will stop you from spouting all manner of nonsense in support of your own brand of My-God-Is-Bigger-Than-Your-
God-And-I'm-Never-Wrong-
Because-I-Read-It-In-The-
Bible.

/facepalm

Ann Rice is no hero here. She decided to accept and tolerate all manner of sin and evil. Certain behavior and beliefs should be rebuked. If gay sex, abortion, etc. are things she is OK with then she needs to look again at her faith.

Christ said to love one another but not the sins that each other does. He said to rebuke one another to strengthen not to accept. When Christ forgave sinful behavior he said to "Go and sin no more" not, well being gay or committing adultery is OK because I love you and wouldn't want to offend you.

That is identical to a woman writing a note "I hung myself" and taping it to her chest and hanging herself eternally.

And all the children and people who listen to her and do the same, their blood will be on Anne. And she will pay the penalty for lost souls.

I wouldn't want to be in her shoes for any amount of money on this planet.

"she will pay the penalty for lost souls."

If you actually read and understood that book you pimp endlessly, you'd know that's blasphemy.

Actually Anne never was a christian, just a hypocrite.

A true christian is faithful even though all those around her leave.

Christian means being like Christ, and he loved his enemies.
to give up truth because some others are incorigable means you didn't have your heart in it in the first place.

She never had a relationship with Jesus, ever, or she would not have let it go.

"Christian means being like Christ, and he loved his enemies."

And she was in a church who hated their enemies: gays, women, and scientists, to name a few.

It is like saying
I gave up my husband whom I love because his friends were really stupid.

makes no sense unless she didnt like her husband in the first place or if she just married him for the mney and couldnt stand him any more.

christianity is a marriage to Jesus a personal relationship
Anne never had one, you dont give up your husband because your husbands cousin goes to jail
its just rediculous.

She writes books for Christsakes.Sounds like people whining about John Lennon here.Who cares what she thinks.

Why can't a person be a true follower of Christ but not of a Christian Denomination sect etc etc etc. Seems to me if You follow the Rightious one You are a better follower of Christ than a hanger onner.

Larry

What anne is really saying, is, I called my self a christian, but I dont really know what it is all about so Im leaving.

that makes sense

Or

I was married, but I never spent time with my husband, and laughed and talked and loved him I was always at work and dont have a clue with what he was like and his friends are goofballs so I didnt go home anymore..

that is what Anne had, a fake christianity.

"What anne is really saying, is, I called my self a christian, but I dont really know what it is all about so Im leaving."

Nonsense; it's more like Ghandi's statement: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians."

She found so-called Christians not acting Christ-like. What don't you understand?

Jesus fucking christ, rhine, you're insane.

She divorced you, Rich?

Why?

#75 | Posted by Danforth at 2010-08-03 02:20 AM | Reply | Flag:

Wrong again Danforth.

Ezekieal 3:18-22 - The blood is on your hands.

#63 | POSTED BY RICHARDRHINE

Really? Is that all the Christians believe? What about the whole anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-artificial birth control, anti-Democrat, anti-secular humanism, and anti-science? That wasn't in the list of Commandments there. Hmm... Putting words in the mouth of God... Well, I guess this stuff would be blasphemy and/or heresy then. According to Leviticus 24:13-16, we have to stone you and all the others now. Where would you like to be stoned?

"She is leaving the Christian faith to follow Christ."

#16 | Posted by kanrei at 2010-08-02 11:16 AM | Reply | Flag:

So much for "where 2 or more are gathered" right? Anne Rice should want to be with people who are so intolerant & evil in here opinion because Christ himself went out amongst the lepers & the whores & the dregs of society because they needed him most. If she truly felt this way, she would be right their doing what Christ would've done & praying for the rest of those soulless bastards. Instead she's just another lefty "pay attention to me so I feel relevant" nut refusing to spend time with people who don't agree with every fucking word she says. I'm sure Christians the world over are devastated.

Ann Rice, by leaving her particular church, makes it that less likely that anyone there she complains about will come to share her thoughts on certain matters. You change minds by engaging, not by walking away and calling a press conference to state how much better than someone else you are.

All of this begs a question for me----Was she accepted in Christian fellowship by all of those nasty people she now rejects? Did they accept her despite knowing she was so much different from them in regards to some issues? Or did Ann get by all that time by just keeping her mouth shut?

Either way, doesn't make Ann look too good.

"Wrong again Danforth.
Ezekieal 3:18-22 - The blood is on your hands."

Gee...another thumper who missed the lesson entirely.

He's not "warn(ing) the wicked", he's judging and condemning, something waaaaay above his pay grade.

"she will pay the penalty for lost souls."

If you actually read and understood that book you pimp endlessly, you'd know that's blasphemy.

#75 | Posted by Danforth at 2010-08-03 02:20 AM | Reply Flag: Unread by original poster

#89 | Posted by Danforth at 2010-08-03 10:21 AM | Reply | Flag:

He is stating that Ann will pay the price for lost souls, because she did not bother to warn the wicked, rather she decided to accept and agree with all kinds of things that can be taken as wickedness (at least in the mindset of the poster that you are agruing with, probably Afkblt.

If you look at what you said in #75, you are wrong in the context of Ezekiel. The poster you are responding to is right in some capacity, as Ann, if she is not warning the wicked as the poster suggests, will pay the price for lost souls based on the Ezekiel passage.

"He is stating that Ann will pay the price for lost souls, because she did not bother to warn the wicked"

Then he's even further off-base. Anne DID try to warn the wicked, and they still turned out to be anti-gay, anti-women, and anti-science.

"she decided to accept and agree with all kinds of things that can be taken as wickedness"

Huh? Who would Christ codify as second-class citizens?

that is what Anne had, a fake christianity.

#81 | Posted by richardrhine

90% of the Christians I encounter are fake plastic Christians.

When Jesus doesn't look and think like you, you leave Christianity. Damn church! Doesn't it realize that Jesus looks and thinks like me?

Worshiping a Jesus made in your own image! How convenient!

#91 | Posted by Danforth at 2010-08-03 11:38 AM | Reply | Flag:

Jesus would not make anyone a second class citizen, however if something is deemed sinful, he would take that into account against them, especially in the event that they were not repentant.

You fail to see the context of the argument you entered.

The poster you were referring to stated something. if it were true, Ann would pay the price for lost souls in accordance with Ezekiel 3:18-22. I mentioned this, you stated that was false.

Now you refuse to correct your position, as you were wrong.

The original poster was mentioning that he things those things you mentioned are not warning the wicked about their wickedness. He is also most likely postulating that if Ann supports these things, she supports others. Thus he thinks she was not warning the wicked, and therefore in that set context, she would be paying the price for the lost souls in accordance to Ezekiel 3:18 - 20 as I stated.

I clearly stated this was the context. You did not state that what the original poster said was blasphemy, but rather that "Anne would pay the price of lost souls" was blasphemy, stating that if he read his little book he pimps he would know that, as in "that's not in there thumper".

However I made it clear that it is in there, and he used it in the proper context, in the event that he is right about what is warning against wickedness. But as I said, what is or is not wickedness was not what was debated in the context.

It was whether there was any way in the "pimped book" that Ann would pay the price for lost souls.

Ezekiel 3:18-20 states that there is. You were wrong. Just apologize to the guy for the whole pimped book post.

Worshiping a Jesus made in your own image! How convenient!

#93 | Posted by Sabbatai

you mean like worshiping God in your own image? Like attributing to a God the very Human emotions of jealousy & wrath & hate & anger & revenge, etc.

yup...very "convenient".

In the beginning Man created God;
and in the image of Man
created he him.

2 And Man gave unto God a multitude of
names,that he might be Lord of all
the earth when it was suited to Man

3 And on the seven millionth
day Man rested and did lean
heavily on his God and saw that
it was good.

4 And Man formed Aqualung of
the dust of the ground, and a
host of others likened unto his kind.

5 And these lesser men were cast into the
void; And some were burned, and some were
put apart from their kind.

6 And Man became the God that he had
created and with his miracles did
rule over all the earth.

7 But as all these things
came to pass, the Spirit that did
cause man to create his God
lived on within all men: even
within Aqualung.

8 And man saw it not.

9 But for Christ's sake he'd
better start looking.

#95 | Posted by donnerboy at 2010-08-03 02:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

So those things are wrong? What else is absolute truth?

Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love -- and now become as the most hated one -- the one -- You have thrown away as unwanted -- unloved. I call, I cling, I want -- and there is no One to answer -- no One on Whom I can cling -- no, No One. -- Alone ... Where is my Faith -- even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness -- My God -- how painful is this unknown pain -- I have no Faith -- I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart -- & make me suffer untold agony.

So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them -- because of the blasphemy -- If there be God -- please forgive me -- When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven -- there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. -- I am told God loves me -- and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?

This is a quote from a Christian who was actually HONEST about her relationship (or lack thereof) with Jesus.

Unlike most Christians I have managed to get to talk about this very important "relationship" she was very honest about the fact that Jesus never really responded to her Love for Him and it ate at her constantly.

So those things are wrong? What else is absolute truth?

#97 | Posted by ExpsRedemption

yes... something very wrong with it.

"absolute Truth?"

WTF is that? 1+1=2? the circumference of a circle =Pirr? a2+b2=c2

A God that created the entire Universe but has Human emotions? Yes, very convenient indeed but not very imaginative.

A God that created the entire Universe but has Human emotions? Yes, very convenient indeed but not very imaginative.

Well, I guess there were always just three options here:

1) God has human emotions
2) God has non-human emotions, whatever those might be
3) God has no emotions.

A barren debate. You'd see any of the three as a sign there is no God whatsoever.

This is a quote from a Christian who was actually HONEST about her relationship (or lack thereof) with Jesus.

She's honest because she conforms to your prejudices in the matter? Other Christians, who say different things----They of course lie?

I'm getting an interesting picture of how you look at other people. Not flattering to them or to you.

So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them -- because of the blasphemy -- If there be God -- please forgive me -- When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven -- there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. -- I am told God loves me -- and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?

I dunno about any of this. Where I come from hard and interesting questions are asked all the time about God and to God. Sometimes we get answers, sometimes not. But "blasphemy" for doing so---Just weird.

Actually wouldn't have been interesting for us to have actually learned that there were non-human emotions before science fiction was conceived?

I would have seen that as proof of an alien (and timeless) intelligence at work in the bible instead of just the work of earth bound Humans.

And why only 3 options? Again you limit your image of God to Human and Earth Centric thinking. You should know by now that by Universal standards we are but babes in the wood.

A God would have known from the Beginning that Earth is not the only planet that contains Life in the Universe. WE are NOT the BE all and End all of how things are in the Universe.

Sometimes we get answers, sometimes not. But "blasphemy" for doing so---Just weird.

#102 | Posted by Zed

so Zed...how often does Jesus actually talk to you?

BTW- the quote was from Mother Teresa. You should read her writings. Very revealing.

"A barren debate. You'd see any of the three as a sign there is no God whatsoever."

Yes it is. The whole idea that there is some invisible, silent, super daddy is preposterous to begin with.

Christ was a humanitarian, tolerant towards all people, regardless of their culture. Organized Religion is a business. Rice is using the word "Christianity" as if it is organized religion. Christianity is really a state of mind, like Budhism, Lech Wallesa or Nelson Mandela.

Actually wouldn't have been interesting for us to have actually learned that there were non-human emotions before science fiction was conceived?

I would have seen that as proof of an alien (and timeless) intelligence at work in the bible instead of just the work of earth bound Humans.

And why only 3 options? Again you limit your image of God to Human and Earth Centric thinking. You should know by now that by Universal standards we are but babes in the wood.

1) If there is any such thing (non-human emotions), which we don't know. And if any were adduced, you'd be unable to imagine it's nature for the very obvious reason. Sort of like trying to figure out what ultraviolet looks like to a bee. You'd class it as unverifiable and vapid nonsense, one more reason to believe just as you do.

2) Why are there only three options? I note you didn't add a fourth. Lack of imagination?

How often does Jesus actually talk to me? Pretty much all the time; the way it's pretty much always been. How long have I been paying attention? Just recently.

" Just apologize to the guy for the whole pimped book post"

No. The guy pimps a book he doesn't understand, while posting blasphemous condemnation.

"Jesus would not make anyone a second class citizen"

The church Anne went to would.

Get the connection yet?

How often does Jesus actually talk to me? Pretty much all the time; the way it's pretty much always been. How long have I been paying attention? Just recently.

#108 | Posted by Zed

Ok...I'll bite...do yo hear an actual voice or is it just a "feeling" that he is speaking to you through earthly events. Like say when you are having a difficulty in life (falling in love or lost a love maybe) and a song on the radio comes on about it and it seems like it is being played just for you? Is it a "coincidental" thing like that or do you really hear a voice in your head?

What do you call it when you talk to Jesus?
Prayer.

What do you call it when Jesus talks to you?
Schizophrenia.

All day long?
Advanced schizophrenia.

Damn.

All I hear is tinnitus.

All I hear is tinnitus.

#113 | Posted by Zatoichi

thats just a busy signal... His Almightiness is busy leave a message He'll get back to you in a minute.

A man asked God if he answered all prayers. God said, "Yes". The man asked God, "Is it true that one second in heaven is equal to a million years on earth?" God said, "Yes". then the man asked God for $1 million dollars. God said, "Ok, just give me a minute"!

The whole idea that there is some invisible, silent, super daddy is preposterous to begin with.

#105 | Posted by nullifidian at 2010-08-03 03:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

Indeed! There is only NO-Thing. That certainly makes better sense and is oh so much easier to prove.

You'll get right on it. Right? Proving there is nothing, that is.

Christ was a humanitarian, tolerant towards all people, regardless of their culture. Organized Religion is a business. Rice is using the word "Christianity" as if it is organized religion. Christianity is really a state of mind, like Budhism, Lech Wallesa or Nelson Mandela.

#106 | Posted by nutcase at 2010-08-03 04:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Christ was a humanitarian, tolerant towards all people, regardless of their culture."

Do you mean like the times (some interpret the record as two separate events) when he ran the money changers and merchants out of the temple with a whip and overturned their tables? Or the frequent comments about hell and warning people about how their unbelief would send them there?

"In the name of Christ, 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."

Antigay--fine.
Opposing hetero sin doesn't make one "anti-breeder" or "anti-hetero"

Antifeminist--so what?

Anti-birth control?--unaddressed by the Bible. Every Christian I know uses it.

Anti-Democrat--MODERN Democrats are some of the most narrow-minded people I know, but I know PLENTY lof liberal Christians, so this is a non-issue.

Anti-science--bullshit. Y'all have seen the lists of prominent Christians who STARTED entire scientific disciplines.

Anti-life--WTF?!?!

But SECULAR HUMANISM?!?! Fuck that! Secular humanism IS the antichrist. You can't say you're a Christian and be a humanist (see humanist manifesto 1,2 and 3)--no way, no how.
Someone WILL get sold out...Jesus or the beast, the bride or the harlot--you pick

I used to get insulted when people would say "you Christians need a crutch"

No longer. Now I KNOW it's true.

We Christians know what a freakin catastrophe we can be without the resurrected Jesus Christ living THROUGH us.

And some of us Christians are STILL a disaster--but THAT IS WHY we knew we needed to get saved.

And Christians can be some of the hardest people to love, trust me I know.
Anne has realized what many of us IN the body of Christ KNOW.

I simply disagree with what she has concluded...

It's like realizing your precious baby's shit now stinks...plug your nose and do something about it!

re: "It's like realizing your precious baby's shit now stinks...plug your nose and do something about it!"

#118 | Posted by kirk at 2010-08-03 10:52 PM | Reply | Flag:

Suggestions, Kirk?

Kirk-
This isn't a good start, by the way: "You can't say you're a Christian and be a humanist"

Seems to me that Jesus was a humanist.

...Lack self-righteous assholes like you.

#12 | Posted by ZombieHunter at 2010-08-02 11:10 AM | Reply

Isn't it inherently self-righteous for one to call someone else, much less label a category of people, "assholes"?

Anne is being unreasonable. In no way do christians pretend to be "Christ-like", they don't attempt to live like Christ in any way, never have, and aren't expected to. We'd probably put them in an insane asylum if they did (that isn't a knock on Christ, but us as a society). Simply "believing" in Christ is enough; rape, steal, murder, lie, cheat your fellow man, just don't forget to say you're sorry (not sorry to the people you've harmed of course, sorry to god). What a great bed christians have made for themselves to lie in!

You'll often hear christians claim to have "a personal god", that is a way for "christian" to mean whatever the hell they need it to mean. Since Christ never bothered to write anything down we only have claims from other people on how he lived. In those claims there are several specific examples of how Christ expected people to behave. Point for me please to a 'Christ-like' example on the Conn. shooting thread, or any gun thread. There are several opposing perspectives from many people who claim to be christians. Shouldn't there be at least one christian who believes that thieves should not be shot or even arrested, but rather offered a coat from the victim's back? That's what Christ tells them to do.

Several christians on this thread have chosen to persecute Anne and other non believers for the sake of their own righteous dogma. And all Anne is really saying is we, the humanists, expect a little better behavior from you lot, we'd like you to act more like your Christ. And what do you do in response? --Condemnation, vitriol, electronic vomit

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
-Christ

"We'd probably put them in an insane asylum if they did (behave like Christ)...."

Well, as it stands, many of you would like to put us in insane asylums regardless.

"Believing in Christ is enough...."

I guess that's going to always be true for some. The equivalent of the atheistic humanist stating that to be a "good" person is enough.

"Just don't forget to say that you're sorry...."

Repentance helps, according to the Book. However, no one escapes judgment, and the Judge is going to be spectacularly fair.

"Shouldn't there be at least one Chrisitan out there who believes that thieves shouldn't be shot or arrested...."

WHAT do you believe in this matter and why? I find myself interested.

A lot of the same old and tired anti-Christian meme being printed here. A lot of you guys formed your biases years ago, elaborated them into a mythos, and now appear committed to being brain-dead for the rest of your lives.

I guess that's going to always be true for some. The equivalent of the atheistic humanist stating that to be a "good" person is enough.

Finally something we can agree on! I'd just change "some" to "most". If there is even a small population of "Christ-like" christians on this Earth, I've jet to spot 'em (can you give me an example of just one?). And I know plenty of so-called atheists who think not doing evil shit is good enough.

and the Judge is going to be spectacularly fair.

I'd hope so. If it's true I suspect the christians are in for a BIG surprise.

WHAT do you believe in this matter and why? I find myself interested.

You first.

"You first....."

It's the topic you personally raised, my evasive friend. You've made some flat statements about other people, now make a flat staement concerning yourself. It's called honesty.

My "statement", that no christians would actually offer a thief their coat, stands on its own. Or do you have an example otherwise?

I've no need to be evasive, but I've played this game with you before where you expect personal information from others so you can sit in judgment.

I wouldn't shoot a thief, no. The ones I've caught I didn't condemn or have arrested, and I forgave them on the spot. It was only twice and both times they were 'friends' (it is always like that, isn't it). Had they needed my coat (and not just wanted my stuff) I would have had no choice but to give it to them. Satisfied?

A lot of you guy's parents formed your faith years ago, elaborated them into a mythos, and you now appear committed to being brain-dead for the rest of your lives.

I see Danforth has still not apologized for being wrong.