Letting Go of God

This wasn't so much an audiobook as it was the audio of a one-person show. Not that it really mattered. Short, and yet a little long in parts, this was an enjoyable listen of her spiritual journey. Julia tells the story of her ambitious, loyal effort to retain a belief in the God she grew up with. I was interested to listen as my study of Judaism had led me to the surprising discovery that many ritual-following, synagogue-going Jews are actually atheists and I am still struggling to understand why. Julia's upbringing was Catholic but I thought her story might shed more light on how it is people "lose" their religion, or keep their religion but subtract the belief in God. I can't say I gained any insights that I didn't already have but it was an enjoyable journey to take with her for a little less than 3 hours.

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.

Sitting, on the freeway, for over 90 minutes waiting for an accident to clear. I had just finished listening to a book, and while scrolling through my library, this caught my eye. I was laughing, nodding my head, enjoying every moment of Julia's book. She takes a very complex and personal conversation and shares, for which I will always be thankful.

Very funny and thought provoking. Made me think and evaluate my own beliefs and why I belive. Great listen.

Julia Sweeney shares the account of her search for meaning, religion and spirituality. She puts into words what many of us must have been thinking about for a long time. Humourous and well researched. She shares some very personal and profound thoughts. Highly recommended, a good companion recording to Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion", though Dawkins does a better job at explaning Darwin's insights, however that is only a minor point in the grand scheme of things.

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.

A fun listen and I learned something from it as well... Two thumbs up!!

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.

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.

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!