Prayers from a NonBeliever

by Julia Cameron

In a series of letters addressed to God, a young artist considers issues surrounding her faith, probes the challenge of maintaining her creativity in the midst of a busy modern life, and wonders at the meaning of art and its relationship to a spiritual life. By the author of The Artist's Way. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2003

About the author

Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.

Reviews

[Aaron Wallentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book a lot. Her mix of openness, honesty, and skepticism on the subject of God is refreshing and comforting. And I always like reading things from her, especially since I have found such comfort in the practice of "Morning Pages" that she advocates.

[Bagger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read anything of Cameron's work, I was surprised to say I enjoyed it, I love how she opens up her ongoing conversations with God, its very Anne of Green Gables, you know how she talks a bout going out into the field and just feeling the prayer.
Its very honest, kind of reminded me of Barbara Hall's writing in the sense that its written very honestly toward God, none of this "right" way to pray stuff that a lot of people get bogged down on.
I think it would be quite a good exercise if more people did this, just type out your honest feelings toward God, its like my pastor says, you're not going to shock Him.

[Anna Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Prayers" is a book about mixed feelings. And I have mixed feelings about "Prayers." At times, the sentiment of the letters is shallow, whiny, and trite. At others, I feel like I could have written some of the passages, given my personal feelings about God and faith.

Part of my problem with the book is that the narrator is supposed to be a middle-age man, which just isn't what you get from the narrator's voice. He's not convincing, in part because he's so whiny, but embedded in his letters to God are small pearls of wisdom. And sometimes, he manages to ask the "right" question - the mostly rhetorical, fundamentally unanswerable, and insightful questions that can only be directed to a higher power.

[Dollie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was more of an interesting exercise than a good read. You go about the narrative of some middle age guy writing to God about his journey from nonbelief to belief (although writing letters to something you don't believe in is a strange exercise). Quite clearly the book is a way to drag the reader along into the author's own belief system. I don't necessarily disagree with her but it was all pretty predictable. I read the whole thing without a whole lot of excitement...but I did read the whole thing.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small letters to God make up this book. An example on the cover is this:

Dear God,
I do not have an easy relationship with you, God. I am confused by your press. I have read so much about you, frpm so many quarrelsome experts, That I do not know who you are- if you are. And yet, I suppose you are- Something made all this- and so I thought would try to make contact...

[Ilze · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this after feeling as if God has forgotten me, but not really wanting to believe that either! Reading a book with this state of mind means that it really spoke to me. But it moved too slowly and actually confirmed what I (and the narrator) knew all along: God will never leave you or forsake you.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be read in one sitting but should be kept nearby to reread as we gain in age and wisdom. Cameron's humor was essential to the task of writing letters to God, something she handled very well.

[Sue]

Zero stars. Julia at her worst - shallow and smart mouthed. She wants a new apartment, she finds a new apartment - oh my, I guess that means there is a God!

[Merrilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful story of faith

[Tonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing, like reading your own journal

[Ceanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, not one of my favorite Julia Cameron's though...

[Alli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abandoned this one. Too complainy, not what I was looking for.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It is one of her most honest pieces, in my opinion.

[Christin Dowdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book inspired me to live more closely with God!