Letting Go of God

By: Julia Sweeney

Narrated by: Julia Sweeney

Length: 2 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Julia Sweeney says she was a "happy Catholic girl" when, one day, she walked into church and signed up for a Bible-study course. "What an eye opener that was!" she says. "Next thing you know, I was on a quest for something I could really believe in. I traveled to places like Bhutan, Ecuador, and my local Starbucks looking for answers. Would I embrace Buddhism? New Age pseudo-science? Was I a freak for feeling the way I did, or were there other people out there just like me? I was grappling with serious questions. But, somehow, a lot of the things that were happening to me seemed, well, funny."

Equally comedic and insightful, Letting Go of God is Sweeney's brilliant one-woman show about her struggle with her faith. Grappling with the seeming contradictions in Adam and Eve, Noah, the Ten Commandments, and even the teachings of Jesus - and trying to understand the Bible's messages about morality, family values, and human suffering while faced with door-knocking Mormons and wise-cracking priests - Sweeney takes listeners on her very personal journey from God to "not-God".

This performance was recorded on November 19, 2005, at the Ars Nova Theatre in New York City.

Julia Sweeney was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1989-94, and is best known for the mysteriously androgynous character, "It's Pat!". She has also served as a consulting producer on Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives. Letting Go of God is her third monologue. She performed her first, God Said, "Ha!", in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and on Broadway, as well as in a film produced by Quentin Tarantino. The CD version was nominated for a Grammy.

There's lots more Julia Sweeney available at Audible®! Just click here to download In the Family Way, her appearances on This American Life, her Un-Cabaret performances, and other great programs.

©2006 Julia Sweeney (P)2006 Julia Sweeney

Critic reviews

"Searing and bracingly funny....Letting Go of God is refreshingly unrancorous, lucid and, yes, inspirational." (The New York Times)
"Letting Go of God is a gale-force breath of fresh air into the mostly political dialogue about religion in our time." (Los Angeles Times)

Humble, touching and smart

Letting Go Of God is a refreshing change from the usual smug arrogance of atheistic literature. It takes us on a believers journey to unbelief, addressing the fears, feelings and confusion this process stirs up while also humorously spotlighting in hindsight the absurdity of some of the pillars of religion that so many either are ignorant of or sweep under the carpet. It is never an exercise in religion bashing, but rather a wistful, sometimes even nostalgic account of Julia's sincere search for truth.
I listened to this in its entirety in one sitting, and can see myself coming back for another listen.
My only very minor gripe would be in regard to the listening experience - because this seems to be a set of live performances stitched together, sometimes one section ends abruptly, followed by a gap of silence where I usually went grasping for my iphone to see if my headphones has come loose or if the battery had gone dead!

Brilliant

extremely intelligent and witty and true. An unfolding of a free mind. Very very worth the time and money.

Faith Wanted - Evidence Required

Julia is a crack up. Seeing the world thru her eyes, I can see why she does not believe in God. Faith requires convincing evidence. (Hebrews 11:1) I hope she keeps on looking. The truth is out there Julia.

She Described it Perfectly

I could listen to this every day. The highlights are the parts about the two Mormon missionaries, the "Why would a god create..." part, and the Depak Chokra bit.

Still Funny After Multiple Listens

This was my "Free book" (this or Dawkins "God Delusion") and I've listened to it dozens of times previously but never in a fashion that Audible would notice it and mark it read, apparently. So I just gave it another listen in the app. Laughed and cried all over again. This humorous look at the well-trodden path to atheism is probably the best way to answer the questions asked of atheists universally. Save yourself some time and gift it to that relative who thinks you eat babies. They might even thank you for it.

"Scathing brilliant"

Wonderfully cerebral, incredibly humorous. Julia Sweeney takes you on her intrepid journey to find God. Through the Catholic Church, Buddhism, transcendental meditation, each time learning something new about God, and more importantly, about herself. "The Kingdom of God is within you". "Scathing brilliant". I've had this audio book for just over a week, and have listened to four times already. It's one short coming is that it is too short. This one is a must listen.

Hilarious

This is a heartfelt, thoughtful, and really funny monologue about the author's search for truth. Highly recommended. I just wish it were longer.

Once Mormon, now atheist

Love her take on things. Definitely. The Bible reminds me of The Wizard of Oz --both are fantasy. However; Oz is better written and much more entertaining!

Brilliant!

Honest, funny, deep and sincere! Something that a lot of us are thinking but she has the courage to say it out loud in a witty and passionate way.

Beautiful Transition

A primer on how to survive the transition from belief to atheism, without alienating your loved ones or falling into despair.