Earlier this month, Anne Rice announced that she was stopping being a Christian – but that she wouldn't give up Christ. Does this make sense? Can you have one without the other? Could you cling to the prophet and abandon Islam? More generally, should anyone be held responsible for the crimes of their co-believers? Should they hold themselves responsible?

It may be that the answer for Christians and for other religions is "yes", they can and should. Monotheistic religions aren't just matters of personal preference, but of collective effort. They command the believers to build a better society. So do many forms of atheism. So if the building turns out to be slaughterhouse, or a jail, perhaps it's right to leave the work crew. But must you then repudiate the ideals that you have seen betrayed?

Whatever it is that Anne Rice sees in the figure of Christ is the same thing as fuels her revulsion from her fellow Christians. So, how to deal with the problem?

Monday's response

John Richardson: I can understand Rice's position. But her desire to set herself apart, I would argue, owes a lot to pride

Wednesday response

Rebecca Jenkins: Christians are just like other people: envious, fearful, resentful and way-too inclined to tear into others rather question ourselves

Friday's response

Theo Hobson: There is no recognized position of 'non-institutional Christian'. But there ought to be one

Saturday's response

Shirley Lancaster: We need to rediscover spirituality as an interior journey and this will involve new institutional forms