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Lapsed

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Lapsed

By: Monica Dux
Narrated by: Monica Dux
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About this listen

Losing your religion is harder than it looks....

From devout 10-year-old performing the part of Jesus in a primary school play to blaspheming undergraduate atheist, Monica Dux and her attitude to the Catholic Church changed profoundly over a decade. Eventually, she calmed down and was just 'lapsed'. Then, on a family trip to Rome, her young daughter expressed a desire to be baptised. Monica found herself re-examining her own childhood and how Catholicism had shaped her. Was it really out of her system, or was it in her blood for life?

In Lapsed, Monica sets out to find the answer. Her investigations lead her to test a miracle cure in Lourdes and visit the grave of a headless Saint who claimed to be married to Christ (and wore a wedding ring made of his foreskin to prove it). She speaks to canon lawyers, abuse survivors and even a nun who insists that the Virgin Mary starts her car every morning.

©2021 Monica Dux (P)2021 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Funny Witty

Critic Reviews

"A frank, funny and heartfelt exorcism of our need to believe in a man in the sky." (Shaun Micallef)

"Enlightening, forensic and laugh-out-loud funny." (Jane Caro)

All stars
Most relevant
I finished this book in less than a week! It is moving, funny and full of research-backed information about the Catholic church. As someone who grew up in Muslim culture, seeing a (dark) part of Christianity that I wasn’t taught in school was mind-blowing. The author’s ability to transfer brutal facts blended with her own experience in a humorous way deserves a big recognition. Highly recommended!
Extra credit to author for narrating the book herself. It always feels special when you know the author reads it to you.

Truly excellent memoir

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A fascinating story which all lapsed Catholics will be able to identify with. My catholic experience wasn’t quite as intense as Monica’s, (despite having spent most of my childhood at a Catholic boarding school) which makes me all the more impressed with how she managed to break free.
I did find the reading style irritating at times and the school Nativity and baby Jesus parts should have been pared down a bit, but other than that ‘Lapsed’ was an inspirational story with several lol moments.

Irritating at times lol at others

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Interesting insights into a lapsed Catholic. Well performed by the author added extra realism.

Losing my religion

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I fully resonated with is this book as a lapsed Catholic of a slightly older vintage than Monica. I actually went through a very intense catholic phase in my late teens early 20’s, walking out of the operating theatre as a medical student if a procedure condemned by the Catholic Church was being performed. However like Monica I slowly saw the light and am now as close to being an atheist as any child brought up in the religion can be. And, yes, my own child born” out of wedlock” was baptised but that was it, my “just in case moment!” I thus had a chuckle as must many of us ex Catholics will do on reading this book. I also learned a few facts and got reminded of many more. Thanks Monica you are not alone.

That could have been me

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From the very beginning of this book I was absolutely captured. With all the moments of ‘oh I know, I felt the same’, journeying thru the sadness and then all the quick & funny snippets that at times really had me laughing out loud, I just loved this book. I also learned a lot that I did not know! Thanks to Monica for the story and the read.

One heck of a yarn, loved it...

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As a lapsed Catholic it was like the author read my mind. Thought provoking , confronting in parts but overall damn funny !

Brilliantly written !

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As a non-religous person I was just plain curious about what really goes on in Catholic families and what lead to Dux's lapsing. What I got from the book were moving and enlightening autobiographical accounts of both mundane and significant life events of a suburban Aussie Catholic family upbringing. These accounts are presented in a delicate tacking between humour and solemnity that makes for an emotionally fulfilling listen. On top of this, which would be enough to keep me listening, the author provides many insightful pieces of historical and academic information which really just make for a tight, engaging argument. I'm not sure there's a strong sense of resolution at the end of the story, but I guess that's a reflection of the complexity of issues discussed. Well worth a listen for anyone interested in religion and the journey involved in leaving it.

Moving and enlightening

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As a “mostly lapsed” catholic of the same vintage as Monica this was extremely relatable! So many laugh out loud moments. Very enjoyable book. Thanks for writing it Monica Dux.

Claire, NZ

So relatable

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Monica Dux has presented an overview of the Catholic Church with skill and wit while maintaining humour and grace. An objective view of an old world establishment that is in desperate need of long overdue reforms. Easy to listen to and well narrated.

A difficult topic, beautifully presented.

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Really enjoyed this work.

She gives humours account of her struggles with Catholicism.

She explores why lapsed Catholics are so vehemently anti catholic, when lapsed other denominations are more ambivalent.

Laugh out loud funny. She cracked me up

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