Customer Reviews

God is No Laughing Matter: Observations and Objections on the Spiritual Path

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Ms. Cameron gives an excellent introduction to this book when she says, "You may not find this book you hold in your hands very spiritual -- but you'll probably find it spirited." She has tried to make the book "hardheaded, softhearted, and playful." For example, in one section she wonders if God likes to cha-cha. Some may find her approach irreverent, but I found it informal rather in a way that will make spirituality more accessible to those who spirits are already burdened. For me, the book was very successful and expanded my spiritual awareness.

The book is organized into a series of brief essays, sometimes combined with excellent poems, and followed with experiments, exercises and/or explorations. Each of these sections could have easily been expanded into a whole book. So there is enough material here to keep you spiritually engaged for years. I did a number of exercises and found them to be both helpful and inspiring. Many of these exercises provide ways to recapture your spirituality by better connecting to what is going on around you. As she points out, since we have left rural living, we have become disconnected from nature . . . which normally serves to keep us spiritually grounded.

Ms. Cameron has been through some pain in her life, which she shares openly. She often disputed what her teachers had to say in parochial school, and spent lots of time in the principal's office as a result. At 29, she was divorced. Now, she is a sober alcoholic. So her advice to lighten up comes from someone who knows the heavier sides of life quite well.

To me, the best part of the book is the magnificence of a single summary phrase that she embeds in every essay . . . that totally encompasses the essay. For example, she likens coming closer to God in "Blind Date" to having to "suit up and show up" as you would to start off a blind date. In "Higher Companions" she introduces you to "believing mirrors." In "Kindness" she tells you that "good is present and active." In "Dope-Dealer God" you are encouraged to "ask for some help." "Family" is expressed as "I believe in helping hands." "Faith" is "oversold" because "Saints commit." In "Parent Bashing" she points out that "Honoring our lineage honors ourselves." I wrote down one or two such phrases from each essay, and will keep them with me to remind me how to rekindle my spirituality. These phrases are great gifts within a great book.

The book is neatly summarized in her final poem, "Roots and Wings." She asserts that all of our various spiritual practices have more in common than we realize.

"The listening heart is home.

If you take that word apart,

You'll find it's built on 'om.'"

(The "om" reference is to the sound that many use during meditation in Eastern methods of connecting to God.)

"We -- each of us -- are traveling

Our own way back home,

We are all unraveling

The mystery of 'om.'"

I especially enjoyed this book for exposing many of my assumptions about God and spirituality that I had never examined before. I suspect that I am one of those people who takes this whole area a little too seriously for the good of my own spirituality.

After finishing the book, I walked out to discover a magnificent sunset that pointed me in the direction home. That experience was clearly a message to me that I will heed for some time to come. As Ms. Cameron says in "Conscious Contact," "we just need to be more open."

After you have finished this book and done its exercises, experiments and explorations, I encourage you to write an essay like one of these that expresses your inner sense of spirituality. Include your own exercises at the end. Then share what you have written with a friend. Hopefully, the friend will later do the same for you.

Have a wonderful spiritual journey!

Past fans of Julia Cameron's work should not be surprised at the subject of her latest book. An artist who has a gift for articulating the spiritual side of writing and the creative process, Cameron tackles the subject head on in this wonderful volume. She approaches her subject not with irreverence, but with an open mind and a playfulness that characterizes her writing style. The book contains a collection of short essays on a number of subjects whose common thread is exploring and experiencing personal spirituality. Experiential learning is very big with Cameron, and throughout the book she posts various experiments and exercises that challenge and inspire readers to think and do things for themselves. This is a very well-written, fun and insightful book. I recommend it to anyone who is moving on their own journey toward spirituality and seeking to feed their soul.

Finally, someone has put into words what I've always felt about God...and until now, felt secretely ashamed. Ms. Cameron reminds us that God can't be all that Very Serious (if you look at the octopus and the "baboons, with their bright red butts.") Her irreverent but sincere take on spirituality is a breath of fresh air that I really needed. So what if we don't pray the exactly correct words and couldn't win an open-book game of bible trivial pursuit? Do we believe what we believe because we truly believe it, or because that's what Sister Very Nasty drilled into us in school? Ms. Cameron urges us to let our religious hair down and stop berating ourselves for not being "spiritual" enough. Her message is clear; one's relationship with his/her creator should be warm, accessible, comforting and a two-way street...rather than one based in fear, guilt and overly-solemn discipline.

From this book to the follow-up PRAYERS FROM A NONBELIEVER: a story of faith, you can read through out the development of Ms. Cameron's faith/spiritual and influence on her work/writing journey. Every book she writes is a journey of the Path. You don't have to be a believer nor a doubter. Each both speaks from her heart to yours. Try reading these two and you will broaden your horizons.

As a huge fan of Julia Cameron's works, I was thrilled to see she had a new book out. The beautiful cover, however, is the only inspiring thing about this work.

What I believe was intended to be a fun, irreverent tone is severely marred by Ms. Cameron's unexplicable need to take blatent pot-shots at people working and practicing different types of spirituality. These nasty comments were unnecessary to her essays about her own spiritual quest, and she comes across rather like a playground bully who wants others to rally behind her and gang up on high-profile people who don't see things her way.

Ms.Cameron is far too accomplished a writer to reduce her work to nasty drivel. I hope for a subsequent volume in which she speaks more from her heart and less from her ego.

I agree with Tracy Becks - this book is so bitter (and also poorly written) that you have to wonder if Julia Cameron actually wrote it.

Eric Winter

What a relief from the old axioms that God is a "sour puss" just waiting for us to sin so He can punish us. Julia's way of explaining God is refreshing, uplifting, and at times even laugh out loud funny.

One of my favorites is in the chapter "God's Will", where she talks about God baking a lemon pie as we sit eating a lettuce leaf. I won't say more because it would take away from the impact of reading it. I thought of myself in that situation and decided that God is baking chocolate chip cookies (my favorite) and from here on, I'm going to savor every single cookie and not feel the least bit of guilt. Reading the book will explain what I'm saying.

I'm sure there are those who would think her a heretic or worse, but I believe she makes God REAL and approachable, and I give her kudos. We need more reading like this.

"God is No Laughting Matter' is Julia Cameron's best book to date. Its tongue-in-cheek title invites readers to consider the humour and paradox in spirituality.

Cameron casts her humorous and intelligent eye over the spiritual search while flexing its muscles and exercising its smiles. This approach is clever because the tone of Cameron's book is a fine example of her premise: that spirituality can be fun without detracting from its deep nature.

The book is structured into short essays on various topics and can be read individually without losing the book's thread. Topics that Cameron explores include the least talked about aspect of spirituality: the possible pitfalls and inflations of the spiritual journey.

Among other topics, Cameron's explores Spirtual Correctness, Parent Bashing, Budda Pests, Spiritual Vampires. Cameron explores these topics without being cynical.

I'm grateful that Cameron did not ignore the less palatable aspects of our spiritually hungry age. By discussing these aspects she recognises that spirituality, like any other aspect of life, is subject to misuse and misinterpretation, and that it's essential to be aware of these. I was buoyed rather than jaded by Cameron's honest exploration.

Cameron has come of age, as a writer, with this book. A gusty, heartfelt book about spirituality, it's definitely worth reading. A book to be enjoyed many times over.

I don't know...but by the title I expected an uplifting, refreshing, original series of thoughts from a very popular artist/writer. What I got instead was a series of negative slaps at countless types of spiritual paths. I am someone who reads a book from cover to cover...well I guess I can abandon that statement now. I tried to read straight through this book but got so sick of each chapter being devoted to making you feel as though by doing nothing toward your spiritual goals you are doing just fine (which is a lovely thought if it ended there) however if you should (God forbid!) be a vegetarian, or do yoga then somehow you are a freak and a phony. She continually refers to these horrible "Spiritual People" as if they (whoever the heck they are) are Nazis. I tried skipping chapters but the theme stayed the same. I finally gave up.
I treasure all books and always think about who the appropriate person will be to receive the book when I am finished (if I'm not keeping it for my own library) so throwing it in the trash so no one else will read it is a big deal.
In fact I was so frustrated by this book I wrote my first review.

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron provides a 12-week course toward unleashing your dormant creative potential through a series of spiritual exercises. Her other exceptional books devoted to creativity have shown many readers how an artistic or creative element in life can be the missing link between contentment and satisfaction. It is only natural that Julia Cameron would be ranked among top modern spiritual teachers, having continually demonstrated time and again the effectiveness of her techniques. In God Is No Laughing Matter, Julia Cameron offers her own perspective on modern spirituality and matters of religion.

God Is No Laughing Matter is presented in a series of humorous, touching, and devout essays, often laced with a bit of sarcasm and the occasional shameful finger-pointing. The style of the book is similar to Cameron's The Right to Write and The Sound of Paper, essays of 2-3 pages followed by a series of short exercises, mostly journal prompts, that allow the reader to further explore his or her own take on the topic at hand.

Unlike any other spirituality book of its kind, God Is No Laughing Matter leaves no topic unturned, and nothing within the realm of spirituality is safe from Cameron's criticism. She takes on all aspects of spirituality from organized religion to modern-day gurus to New Age evangelists and psychotherapists. What results is a gorgeously written, common sense guide to finding one's own spiritual path. Why can't lingerie be spiritual, one wonders. Maybe God does have a sense of humor. Perhaps I should not be so ashamed of my body, my mind, or my spirit. The book is sure to prompt spontaneous laughter as readers recognize familiar scenario after familiar scenario and say to themselves, "I've been there! I've thought that!"

Topics range from sex and Hollywood to New Age healing, parent-bashing, and Buddhism. This book is not intended for those Cameron refers to as "Very Spiritual People," or people who think they are better than the average person because of their highly spiritual nature and practices. The overall message of the book seems to recommend open-mindedness and suggests the highly beneficial nature of a personal relationship with God. In fact, Cameron seems to be well-versed in many spiritual methodologies, having extracted her favorite bits and pieces from each to create a spirituality all her own.

What lies within the pages of God Is No Laughing Matter is something truly unique, a lighthearted, comedic, and warmly gentle approach toward spirituality. Don't take yourself too seriously, and remember to have fun. Acknowledge beauty all around you, and remember to be grateful. Don't work so hard to change who and where you are, for maybe you are exactly where you are supposed to be! With this book, Julia Cameron has given yet another gift to her readers, straight from the heart.