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)

Smart, funny, persausive, and kind-hearted.

Great recording: kept my attention, and consistently funny. I liked that this author talks kindly about her experience and journey. Empathy in talking about faith felt more compelling and persausive than bash-you-over-the-head-with-science (which is fun for me, but how many people are convinced by that?).

Great book; exactly what I was looking for. Smart, funny, persausive, and kind-hearted.

Wow!! Loved it!

I so enjoyed Julia’s “pilgrimage”. She is amazing. I, too, let go of god after many years of searching. Her story uplifted me—I love her humor & her deep thoughts. I could listen to this over & over again—so much to contemplate, and very inspirational. Loved every minute!

Just so good

I can’t count the number of times I’ve listened to this over the years. I’ve laughed and cried and loved it just as much, if not even more, every subsequent time I’ve listened. It is at once relatable, articulate, touching, and comical. I love her take on this topic so many of us grapple with.

Artfully told

I would not have tolerated this book if it were written any other way than the way she told it. From her experiences, I can see why she has come to the conclusion she did. I learned a valuable lesson from her, my thoughts are my own and I don't have to worry about being judged one day for them. Thank you for clearing my head of the "judgement seat" of God. I cannot let go of God, but I can understand those who have and will not burden them with the mundane questions and comments in attempts to "figure them out". Thank you for gently telling your story with humor and love. I finally get it.

She could have been telling my own story!

I absolutely loved this audio book! Julia Sweeny does such a wonderful job of explaining a very personal, sometimes painful soul-searching journey into her spiritual beliefs. I loved it because it also mirrored my own journey and took me to the same place in almost the exact same way. She tells her story in a humorous, but very intelligent manner that is very enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever grappled with the question, "What if there is no god?"

Thought-provoking and funny

Humorous, well thought out. I think those with and without faith will nod and see themselves portrayed here (and still smile)

Letting go while laughing

Julia has a great conversation voice and is easy to understand. The subject of "letting go of God" is of much importance in our current world plight. She doesn't push her atheist ideas in your face- if you're just starting on your path in looking for others opinions on religion and God or gods this is one of the best ways to start- with a good laugh at something too many hold too dear.

Pick up, God, I know your there!

Manages to be funny, irreverent, and respectful all at once. This was not tossed off in a day, but is a thouroughly though out and honest exposition of personal change. Not for the dogmatic religionist or stone=cold athiest. Shows true compassion, emotion, and rationality.

Interesting theatricalization of The Search

I'd wish my usage of the term "theatricalization" to be taken, not in a negative way, at all, but, rather, in a "neutral" one. Actually, I began considering the word "novelization", but, as the reading is delivered on the stage, and as it works so well in that setting, I consider it to be a better way of describing it.
That notwithstanding, the concept is also useful for expressing my impression that Sweeney did a lot of "adapting" to her, let's say, "spiritual" experiences, in order to drive her message home more effectively. Regarding this, the well-timed aparition of both couples of mormons looks rather suspicious.
But I hardly think this is something to make much of, as it's a well known fact that most writing is "subjective" (i.e., a fiction), in some measure, and rhetoric ought to be expected. In any case, I'd have preferred that Sweeney had avoided over-dramatizing her lecture: it gets too pathetic on occasions, and too teary from time to time -in a noticeable forced way-.
Also, perhaps, I'd have liked the author to comment more about the "imprint" phenomenon, that is, the lasting effects of religion being instilled in young minds. Sweeney refers to it in passing: "once a Catholic, alwasys a Catholic".
Apart from that, I think this is a work worth listening to: it explores the experiential aspect of the free-thinker mind, which is a matter rarely considered on more "technical" atheist books.

seriously funny

I recommend it to all my, self righteous, Bible thumping friends, most of whom have not read that book.