Letting go of god julia sweeney completes her solo legit trilogy, following god said ha and in the family way, with this intermittently humorous but ultimately ponderous. Thanks so much there are several different ways to donate. I am finally writing this book, something ive threatened to do for so long. When two young mormon missionaries knock on her door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs. Mar 29, 2008 letting go of god got into the seattle film festival. Of course, after i did letting go of god i got a lot of bibles as gifts from believers hoping to win me back to the faith. Keeper in the film stuart little and voiced brittany in father of the pride. Letting go of god sweeneys third autobiographical monologue is titled letting go of god. Far from being an angry atheistic screed, it is an uplifting journey of the heart. Julia sweeneys most popular book is letting go of god. Letting go of god got into the seattle film festival.
If this blog or johns books have been helpful to you please consider making a donation. Somehow, against all common sense, julia is making something funny that has no business being funny. Julia sweeneys brave, hilarious, moving new show letting go of god is a galeforce breath of fresh of fresh air into the mostly politic dialogue about religion in our time. She has also served as a consulting producer on sex and the city and desperate housewives. When two young mormon missionaries knock on julia sweeneys door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs, in this excerpt from sweeneys solo show letting go of god. Julia sweeneys brave, hilarious, moving new show letting go of god is a gale force breath of fresh air into a mostly polemic dialogue about religion in our. Letting go of god an excerpt if you like this, and i know you will, you can get the full soundtrack on apples itunes search for julia sweeney. Richard dawkins in conversation with julia sweeney june 9, 2015 in rochester, mn duration. I was raised catholic and for the most part, i was a happy believer and felt. Benevolent, sweetfaced, actress and comedienne julia sweeney, who was born in 1959 in spokane. An excerpt of this show, letting go of god is the single most popular story weve ever put on our show in over ten years on the air. Our daily coverage of the world of ideas newsletter.
Over the years i would read various books about the bible. Letting go of god, an elegantly written and beautifully performed monologue about her loss of faith, made me laugh a lot and think even more. When two young mormon missionaries knocked on performer julia sweeney s door one day, it put sweeney on a quest to completely rethink. What julia sweeney has learned since performing her. When two young mormon missionaries knock on julia sweeney s door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs, in this excerpt from sweeney s solo show letting go of god. For anyone raised in a religious home who found themselves questioning their beliefs, you will find this 2 hour standup hysterical and familiar.
Finally, sweeney let go of god, she allowed herself the full. Letting go of god ted talk when two young mormon missionaries knock on julia sweeneys door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs, in this excerpt from sweeneys solo show letting go of god. In it, she discusses her catholic upbringing, early religious ideology, and the life events and internal search that led her to believe that the universe can function on its own without a deity to preside over it, and to her becoming an atheist. I have just relistened to this short, excellent and entertaining live performance by julia sweeney. Letting go of god is her journey of becoming an atheist from being raised a catholic girl. This performance of letting go fo god was recorded on november 19, 2005 at the ars nova theatre in new york city. Grappling with the seeming contradictions in adam and eve, noah, the ten commandments, and even the teachings of jesus and trying to understand the bibles messages about morality, family values, and human suffering while faced with doorknocking mormons and wisecracking priests sweeney. Sweeney talks with us about the difference performing her show before atheist audiences and audiences of mixed religious beliefs.
In her searing and bracingly funny solo show, julia sweeney traces her bumpy journey away from religious faith. Letting go of god when two young mormon missionaries knock on julia sweeneys door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs, in this excerpt from sweeneys solo show letting go of god. Julia sweeney, in letting go of god you might think coming out as an atheist would be no big deal in 21st century america. An interview with julia sweeney julia sweeney is an american actress, comedienne, and author who frequently discusses her journey from catholicism to atheism. Grappling with the seeming contradictions in adam and eve, noah, the ten commandments, and even the teachings of jesus and trying to understand the bibles messages about morality, family values, and human suffering while faced with doorknocking mormons and wisecracking priests sweeney takes listeners on her very personal journey from god to notgod. She d always felt god s love, she tells us, but the query prompts her to explore for the first time, rationally, what she knows about god. She was a cast member on saturday night live from 1990 to 1994. Julia sweeney has books on goodreads with 9915 ratings.
Oct 25, 2006 photo by cal crary julia sweeneys onewoman show, letting go of god is currently playing at the ars nova theater in new york city until oct. And i sort of presented myself to them in the doorway. Letting go of god is a humorous monologue by julia sweeney chronicling her search for god. I feel i now look at the world not as a child, but as an adult. Julia anne sweeney born october 10, 1959 is an american actress, comedian and author. Richard dawkins in conversation with julia sweeney june 9, 2015 in rochester, mn. The person i read most often on this topic is a wonderful scholar and author, robert m. Tweetthis is a very funny monologue by julia sweeney. I let go of god at age 12 when after reading the sermon on the mount for 30 nights at my methodist mothers direction, i let go of god. Photography by brent nicastro there is no one who better epitomizes the spirit of the freedom from religion foundations emperor has no clothes awar. When julia sweeney performed excerpts of her solo play letting go of god on the popular public radio show.
What julia sweeney has learned since performing her atheist. In julia sweeney s monologue letting go of god, her particular crisis of faith is prompted, paradoxically, by two mormon. Its a tour of sweeney s humorous grappling with the big questions. You have javascript disabled for the best experience, please turn javascript on. Letting go of god poses the religious questions almost all of us have had, but with the delightful humor and observations of ms. Anyone who thinks that julia sweeney is just the comedian who played pat on saturday night live, doesnt know julia sweeney. Published on jan 16, 2007 julia sweeney god said, ha. Letting go of god a few days ago i went with some friends to see julia sweeney s onewoman play, letting go of god. Julia sweeney launched her career by playing pat on saturday night live.
Equally comedic and insightful, letting go of god is sweeneys brilliant onewoman show about her struggle with her faith. In julia sweeney s monologue letting go of god, her particular crisis of faith is prompted, paradoxically, by two mormon missionaries, who bring her up short with the question do you know that god loves you. Earlier this month, sweeney played nine shows of letting go of god at the ars nova theater in manhattan. Feb 09, 2009 if youve never heard julia sweeneys letting go of god, you can catch the first hilarious minutes on. The other project is my next book, my beautiful lossoffaith story. Jun 03, 2005 julia sweeney, a catholic, tells the story of how her faith began to crack after reading a most alarming book. What she learns there leads her to new questions, and in search for answers she explores meditation, buddhism and new age gurus, then describes what she learned from the sciences.
In her searing and bracingly funny solo show letting go of god, julia sweeney traces her bumpy journey away. Letting go of god will have you laughing at parts and crying at others, and above all, will get you to question your belief structure, whatever it is. I feel productive and able to accomplish things at the moment. Jan 05, 2007 betty rollin reports on atheistic authors richard dawkins and sam harris, and other outspoken atheists, including julia sweeney and her offbroadway performance, letting go of god. Letting go of god, by julia sweeney an excerpt of this show, letting go of god is the single most popular story weve ever put on our show in over ten years on the air. Julia sweeney, a catholic, tells the story of how her faith began to crack after reading a most alarming book. Im a big fan of hers since her debut on the saturday night live, especially her pat gig, the unisex person.
Short books to feed your craving for ideas ideas blog. But i also see what is beautiful, what is wonderful. She begins in the catholic church, the religion her family raised her in, and takes a bible study class. I was raised catholic and for the most part, i was a happy believer and felt great affinity and allegiance to my catholic culture.
It took me years, but letting go of religion has been the most profound wake up of my life. Julia sweeney s third autobiographical monologue, letting go of god takes the audience through her catholic upbringing and how personal events in her life and that of her family led her to a disbelief in a personal universal deity. Im not sure of any more details, but this will be the public world premier. She has garnered critical acclaim for her onepersonshows, god said, ha. When two young mormon missionaries knock on performer julia sweeney s door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her. I listened to this on audio book, which is really the best way because so much of the content is dependent on ms. She presents them around the theme of what she has learned since she started performing her show. Julia sweeneys devastating sense of humor in portraying the.
As a solo performer, julia sweeney explores the issues of love, cancer, family and faith. An active book discussion forum for both fiction and nonfiction books including forums for religion, philosophy, science, politics, current events and more. Julia anne sweeney october 10, 1959 spokane, washington, usa. No one who wishes to reaffirm and deepen a faith in the god of the bible ought to read this book. Grappling with the seeming contradictions in adam and eve, noah, the ten commandments, and even the teachings of jesus and trying to understand the bibles messages about morality, family values, and human suffering while faced with door. This is the book that goes along with letting go of god.
Finding my religion julia sweeney talks about how she. Julia sweeney s most popular book is letting go of god. Julia sweeney letting go of god 2008 directed by julia. She has gone on to write and star in acclaimed oneperson shows, including god said ha. Julia sweeneys brave, hilarious, moving new show letting go of god is a galeforce breath of fresh air into a mostly polemic dialogue about religion in our. Julia sweeney, the former saturday night live actress who now performs her onewoman show letting go of god, addressed the crowd at the freedom from religion foundation convention in october her remarks are hilarious. Since her time on saturday night live, where she created the infamous androgynous character pat, julia sweeney has gone on to establish herself as a witty, captivating performer of onewoman shows, like god said ha. On september 10th, the morning of my seventh birthday, i came downstairs to the kitchen where my mother was washing the dishes and my father was reading the paper. Julia sweeney is best known for her four hit seasons on saturday night live and her most popular character while on that show pat. Letting go of god is a onepersonmonologue by julia sweeney chronicling her search for god. Publishers summaryjulia sweeney says she was a happy catholi. Julia sweeney was a cast member on saturday night live from 198994, and is best known for the mysteriously androgynous character, its pat. While sweeney is an atheist, this monologue is not intended to destroy religion, it is her personal journey to understanding, which ultimately led her to reject the idea of there being a god. Jan 30, 2008 julia sweeney, the former saturday night live actress who now performs her onewoman show letting go of god, addressed the crowd at the freedom from religion foundation convention in october.
Theres lots more julia sweeney available at audible. Letting go of god by julia sweeney the venus project. Letting go of god freedom from religion foundation. What she learns there leads her to new questions, and in search for answers she explores meditation, buddhism and new age gurus, then describes what she learned from the.
A simple question about god snowballs into an epic soul searching session after a pair of mormon missionaries knock on julia sweeney s door and get much more than they ever bargained for. Oct 26, 2006 a few days ago i went with some friends to see julia sweeneys onewoman play, letting go of god. March 18, 2015 julia sweeney is an american actress, comedienne, and author who frequently discusses her journey from. She currently costars in the hulu series shrill and the showtime series work in progress. What she learns there leads her to new questions, and in search for answers she explores meditation, buddhism and new age gurus, then describes what she learned from the sciences and from sharpening her.