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)

Funny and thought-provoking

I love Julia Sweeney and her comedic style. She takes the very serious subject of a spiritual quest and manages to make you laugh with anecdotes while giving you something to ponder. It isn't all laughs, because it is a very serious subject, and it may offend some people. But if you listen with an open mind, it will make you think about faith, religion, and even the wonder of your own existence.

This is educated humor of importance

Comedic, witty and educational, believe it or not. What a great realization path she leads one through and it's not without educating herself on all the probable scenarios along the way. This isn't preachy but a story of her deep search to find the meaning of God ... who really wasn't there.

Great Listen

Not as hard core as Dawkins, a nice fun listen for anyone who would enjoy a heartfelt, emotional speech from a woman who decideds to let go of her faith in God.

Funny and poignant

This live recording was very well done.
Julia finds the humor in what many of us are facing today; leaving our religion and belief in god behind. She shares her experiences from her Catholic upbringing, personal challenges and her departure from faith.
I would suggest her book to anyone, but especially to those who have discovered they simply no longer believe.
Listening to Julia tell her story in such a delightfully lighthearted way made me feel better about my own journey away from a set of beliefs imposed on me literally from birth.

Funny and Smart

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud a bunch of times listening to this book. Also, it made me think. And, Julia Sweeney is great company. This is already one of my favourites and I could see listening to it again.

Funny and entertaining!

I just loved how Julia narrates this! Very funny and very personable. I have listened to this over again many times now and share it with others.

I felt as if I was listening to myself speak.

Loved it. Ms. Sweeny speaks for so many of us. All the reviews are correct. Buy it you won't regret it.

If you are uptight stop now!

Would you consider the audio edition of Letting Go of God to be better than the print version?

Yes! It's the same as having her talk to you not just in your head but in your ears.

What did you like best about this story?

Her interaction with the morman missionaries.

Which character – as performed by Julia Sweeney – was your favorite?

I can't just pick one!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

THE BIBLE AND OLTHER works of fiction.

Loved this!

Julia Sweeney certainly has a knack for story telling. She took a serious topic and made it so funny and enjoyable. Her delivery is brilliant. It was a real joy to listen too. It met and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend 'Letting Go of God' to everyone, even theist.

A Familiar Journey

Since I found so many parallels in Julia Sweeney's journey, to my own, I imagine many of us have traveled a similar path. From a child with unwavering faith to that which we were raised in, to thinking, "this is not quite right, but there must be a "right" answer in all of those religions", to the realization that "they might all just be wrong." What I most appreciated was the sympathetic way she describes the journey of letting go. That it's not just a journey of logic, but of the emotions involved. Giving up on Santa is just as hard at 45 as it is at 5. We want to believe...but no longer can. There is a quietness that accompanies this insight. But in the stillness, a new awareness of what IS, takes the place of wishful thinking.
Absolutely enjoyed it....and it was FUNNY too!