"My Beautiful Loss of Faith Story"

That's Julia Sweeney's new book.

An interview about it in the San Francisco Chronicle:

With conservative Christians calling the shots in Washington, creationism crawling back into the nation's schools and even normally decadent Hollywood hopping onto the spiritual bandwagon, it's a beleaguered time for atheists in America.

Comedian Julia Sweeney, a former Roman Catholic who lost her faith in God, tries to keep her sense of humor. Best known for her portrayal of the androgynous character "Pat" on "Saturday Night Live," Sweeney recently completed a successful run in Los Angeles of a one-woman show, "Letting Go of God," which chronicles her own disillusionment with religion.

Now she is telling her story in a book, "My Beautiful Loss of Faith Story" (Henry Holt). Sweeney, who grew up the oldest of five children in Spokane, Wash., is now the single mother of an adopted girl from China. She spoke with me from her home in Los Angeles.

Was it difficult for you to come out as a nonbeliever?
No. It actually wasn't. If I had gone to Salt Lake City and done this show, maybe that would have been different. But here [in L.A.] you're not defined socially by your religious views.

I think most of my friends were shocked that I actually thought about religion that much. I had several people come up and say, "I didn't know you were so religious!" I think they were more surprised by how religious I was before I wasn't religious than they were by the fact that I wasn't religious. [laughter]

I read that as a kid you fantasized about being a nun. What did you find attractive about that?
Oh! What's not attractive? To me it all seemed so glamorous! First of all, you get an outfit that's fantastic! And then you live together with all these women! I related to those films like "The Trouble With Angels" and "A Nun's Story." It all seemed so "Black Narcissus," you know? And the rituals, like going in and prostrating yourself before the cross, and the prayers, were appealing on some level. I still love it! I could join a convent, really!

At what point did you start having doubts about Catholicism?
Well, I kind of did always. You know, in high school I thought Catholicism was funny and sort of ridiculous, but then I also liked it, too. Like, I definitely turned to it in times of trouble. You know, even shallow things like, "Dear God, help this boy ask me out on a date." But I always had doubts about it. It's just that I didn't develop them. I had really, um, shallow doubts.

What caused you to take a deeper look?

More.

Via RA