Customer Reviews

Letting Go of God

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD has become very dear to me and some of my friends. I saw this performed live three times, and laughed all the way through and even wept a few times (and I am a grown man!). Sweeney went through the whole gamut of spirituality, (Catholicism, Buddhism, the belief that "God is love" and finally "God is Nature") before truly weighing fact from blind faith. It was not easy for her (or any of us seeking truth and perhaps even FEARING the truth) which is what this great 2 CD set covers. I know it sounds like a very broad statement, but if everyone on earth could hear this, I think we just may come to live in a more rational world (or perhaps that is just wishful thinking on my part...). I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who is questioning the rationality of blind faith, who is suffering from a religious upbringing, or feels they are ready to live a truly authentic life. A NOTE: Sweeney has no agenda--she only tells her story and the listener can take from it what they may. I always feel very peaceful and inspired after listening to this. It comes with a book of the complete text, a track list and 2 CD's.

Inspiring, poignant, funny. Julia's intimate journey is not to be missed. Just as the other reviewer stated, I'm constantly mentioning this to friends, bought one for my sister and refer to is time and again. You'll listen to it repeatedly and laugh louder and be struck more deeply each time. Worth every penny (especially on iTunes where it's only $12).

Letting Go Of God covers all the bases: the journey from childhood religious indoctrination to freethinking adulthood, the contradictions in the Bible, the silliness of New Age thinking as a substitute for reason, the prejudice against atheists, and, most of all, shows that you can be a good, kind, loving person without God (indeed, it's hard not to be totally in love with Sweeney by the end). It never sneers, never uses condescension, and never once tells anyone else what to think -- it trust that the members of the audience can find their own way. A tour de force; I recommend it highly and wholeheartedly.

"Letting Go of God" is a heartfelt, moving and entertaining study by Julia Sweeney of her own personal struggle with religion. Julia is know mostly for her work on Saturday Night Live between 1990 and 1994 and her reoccurring androgynous character Pat.
Unlike many of the recent popular (and excellent) books on Atheism such as Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens' God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, "Letting Go of God" is deeply personal and non confrontational.

Her monologue starts out with a discussion that Julia had with a pair of Mormons that knocked on her door one afternoon. During this discussion the tenants of the Mormon beliefs are outlined and rightfully criticized by Julia in a very humorous way. As you listen to her monologue you can't help but laugh at how silly the religion sounds but it is also a great foreshadowing of how she will come to see her own religion, Catholicism.

Eventually she starts talking about a series of bible study classes she took at her church and how the more she learned about the bible the more disillusioned she became with God in general. In one poignant moment after she has completed her bible classes, she is driving past a group of ladies walking to church, carrying their Bibles and wants to yell out to them "Have you ever Read that Book!"

At this point Julia has given up on the God of the Bible and of the Catholic church and sets out to find "her" God by studying middle eastern religions, new age religions and even reading most of Deepak Chopra's books. Her conclusion after all of this detailed research is that all religions have serious issues and particularly that Deepak is "Full of S*&#".

As you can guess by the title, Julia, after a long and honest struggle, finally gives up on her belief and becomes a true freethinker. This CD and eventual video is a great resource for anyone who is struggling with their faith and wants to hear a voice of reason that isn't abrasive or condescending in anyway. I can't recommend it enough to anyone in this situation or anyone that just wants to be entertained by a brilliant spokesperson for the freethinking movement.

Julia has such gentle poise that you hardly notice that she has just
dismantled every "fact" that you have been taught about God until
it's too late. You are laughing with glee in unwanted recognition of
the forbidden truth. Her wit, economy of words, and searing observations
are entertaining on a level rarely displayed in comedy, TV or Film. If
you fancy yourself a seeker of truth, don't pass up this trip with Julia.
Disillusionment has never been so enjoyable! Take the leap of faith...

Julia Sweeney has created another brilliant monologue about her complex and always entertaining life. This journey, from faith to logic and self-sufficiency is so funny, yet so interesting and universal that I have listened again and again.

As a former parochial school kid and devout protestant who asked too many unanswerable questions as a teenager, I trod a similar path as Julia but found my way to Tibetan Buddhism as the place that made sense to me. Despite that, I have enormous respect for Julia's rigorous approach to her dwindling faith, reading the Bible, numerous science and physics books, traveling to the Galapagos. That girl really did her homework! Go on her journey too. You will never look at Christianity the same.

I recommend all of Julia Sweeney's monologues. They are all wonderful.

Exactly what I was looking for. I advise all Freethinkers to listen to this CD. You may hear about your own life experiences

I really enjoyed this thoughtful and humorous examination of religious ideas. For a person who admits she was not taught critical thinking skills, Sweeney presents a terrific (if abbreviated) analysis of the ridiculous ideas in Catholicism and many other religions that her priests and parents told her to not think too much about. I highly recommend this CD as a gentle way of introduction religious skepticism to the faithful.

This easily scores five stars. I have no problem paying for this CD although I did buy the audio book instead.

But having seen the real show, I must say that a very significant part of her performance is in the facial expression and gesture, things that you don't get from the audio alone. I wish there is a DVD recording of the show in video.

Still, five stars.

Immediately after listening to this CD I recommended it to several friends! Smart, funny and unique. As I was listening to it I thought to myself "FINALLY!"