You know – I have always loved Anne Rice’s writing. When I was 18 I read Interview With The Vampire and recognized it as a modern classic. She has a unique way of recasting themes in a new light (or shadow). Her use of language is second to none and her ability to create a setting is quite amazing.
After a while though my interest in these things waned and I sought out new themes and ideas.
So what a surprise it was to be wandering the aisles of Costco and noticing a book in the aisle that immediately captured my interest – Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt by none other than Anne Rice. Amazing.
I regret that I was immediately suspicious of her motives. Why would she write a book about Christ? What heresies are spouted here? Is this going to be a defense of gnosticism or liberal theology? Is she trying to make a buck and cash in on the new openess to all things spiritual?
For those of you who know me you know I am pathologically required to have an opinion on everything and hence fairly research oriented. Thus I have spent a good amount of time digging into interviews and articles about Mrs. Rice’s recent venture and have found a refreshingly devout faith focused on faithfully authoring an account of what Christ’s life might have been like during the years not documented in scripture.
Mrs. Rice writes the following about why she was writing the book:
"The ultimate questions, the ones distilled from a thousand others were so obvious as to be frightening. What did it feel like to be Jesus? What did it feel like to be God and Man as a child? This is the Christ of the four gospels in whom I believe. — In a way, the novel is the story of Christmas told in a new way — from the point of view of Jesus Himself when he is old enough to start talking seriously about the mysteries surrounding His birth. — My life has led to this book."
I am in the midst of reading the book now and am hopeful for it.
NOTE: This is not me saying go out and buy this book because it is second only to scripture. I have noticed that people often assume that because you have read something you must therefore whole-heartedly agree with everything in it. Not true.
That being said if you are going to read this (or anything for that matter) read it with the most critical mind. By critical I don’t mean criticism – I mean ruminate your way through the text. Research what you agree with or don’t agree with. Consider the author’s intent and background. I should add that in dealing with matters of faith one needs to proceed with caution – as a follower of Christ there is always the danger of either accepting something about Jesus completely as though it were Gospel or discarding it as though it were trash – neither of which are appropriate without having read it with a critical eye.
FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW: I was impressed that Mrs. Rice considers Alfred Edersheim’s book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah as a very good biography (as it is).
Her website is a wealth of info: http://www.annerice.com/bs_b_ChristTheLord.htm
I will offer up a review when I am done. In the mean time here’s an article about Mrs. Rice from Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/006/8.05.html
Harnessing Chaos 