--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a religious experience to pick up…" description: "\"It was a religious experience to pick up a gun. I'd never understood the attraction before. But when you're shooting, it's almost sexual. There's an au..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/alison-pill-10718_change_it-was-a-religious-experience-to-pick-up_1218809.jpg" --- # It was a religious experience to pick up a gun. I'd never… ![“It was a religious experience to pick up a gun. I'd never understood the attraction before. But when you're shooting, it's almost sexual. There's an automatic physical change.” quote by Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/alison-pill-10718_change_it-was-a-religious-experience-to-pick-up_1218809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/alison-pill-10718_change_it-was-a-religious-experience-to-pick-up_1218809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/alison-pill-10718_change_it-was-a-religious-experience-to-pick-up_1218809.jpg) > “It was a religious experience to pick up a gun. I'd never understood the attraction before. But when you're shooting, it's almost sexual. There's an automatic physical change.” [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shooting a gun triggers a visceral, almost erotic response, linking physical arousal with the act of firing. **In simple terms:** Gunfire can feel sexually charged and physically intense. Key Takeaway Recognize the psychological impact of weapons. Themes psychology of violence sexuality physiological response Mood introspective uneasy Type psychological observational When to use this quote - Self‑defense training - military simulation - counseling for trauma - film scene preparation - personal risk assessment Key Concepts Adrenaline arousal power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why does violence feel erotic for some? - How can we separate thrill from harm? A Different Perspective Such feelings can normalize dangerous behavior if unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-experience/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes if you want to get rid of the gun, you have to pick the gun up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/sometimes-if-you-want-to-get-rid-of-the-gun-you-have-to-pick-the-gun/) [Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/) > [The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-end-move-in-politics-is-always-to-pick-up-a-gun/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I didn't want to kill anybody, but there comes a point when the only way you can make a statement is to pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jane-moore/i-didn-t-want-to-kill-anybody-but-there-comes-a-point-when-the-only/) Sara Jane Moore > [I will never tell anyone to pick up a gun. But I will pray for the man who picks up a gun, pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-will-never-tell-anyone-to-pick-up-a-gun-but-i-will-pray-for-the-man/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Sometimes you have to pick the gun up to put the Gun down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-pick-the-gun-up-to-put-the-gun-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Very sorry to hear about the shooting at the Family Research Council. Thoughts are with the guard, but glad he was there to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/very-sorry-to-hear-about-the-shooting-at-the-family-research-council/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [“Kaden gave another one of those unexpected barks of humor. “Yeah. And I’m telling you, my sister is a shameless, shameless woman, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/kaden-gave-another-one-of-those-unexpected-barks-of-humor-yeah-and-i/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “...\[A\] strange necessity has been laid upon me to devote my life to the central concern that transcends the walls that divide and would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/a-strange-necessity-has-been-laid-upon-me-to-devote-my-life-to-the/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [If I had a religious experience, what I know for sure is that I would stop doing philosophy and would start doing religion, teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-critchley/if-i-had-a-religious-experience-what-i-know-for-sure-is-that-i-would/) [Simon Critchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-critchley/) > [You have to be closer to religious origins -- the generation of the 20's was truly secular in that it still knew its theology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-douglas/you-have-to-be-closer-to-religious-origins-the-generation-of-the-20-s/) [Ann Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-douglas/) > [Painting' and 'religious experience' are the same thing. It is a question of the perpetual motion of a right idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholson/painting-and-religious-experience-are-the-same-thing-it-is-a-question/) [Ben Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholson/) > [I just had a thought that perhaps religion is so vibrant here is because of the melting pot aspect to our society. WE have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/i-just-had-a-thought-that-perhaps-religion-is-so-vibrant-here-is/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) ## More by Alison Pill > [Secrets are great for acting. Secrets are the best thing in the world for acting, because they keep you looking like you have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/secrets-are-great-for-acting-secrets-are-the-best-thing-in-the-world/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I want to be Michelle Obama when I grow up. Not the First Lady stuff, but the cool mom, great speaker, advocate stuff. She's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-want-to-be-michelle-obama-when-i-grow-up-not-the-first-lady-stuff/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [When you're in film and you're in close, charisma in the eyes and confidence can take over. But when someone's sitting twenty rows back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/when-you-re-in-film-and-you-re-in-close-charisma-in-the-eyes-and/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [One of the great things about this cast is that we've been able to take actors of relatively the same age group that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/one-of-the-great-things-about-this-cast-is-that-we-ve-been-able-to/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [Okay, I get kicked off the drums when I try and...the notes just keep coming at you and I'm like "Ahhhhh!" I can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/okay-i-get-kicked-off-the-drums-when-i-try-and-the-notes-just-keep/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [The biggest thing I've noticed with some of my favorite directors is their gift of sticking a bunch of strangers in a room together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/the-biggest-thing-i-ve-noticed-with-some-of-my-favorite-directors-is/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I guess the biggest world difference you can make is in people's relations to their own emotions, 'cause emotions rule so much of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-guess-the-biggest-world-difference-you-can-make-is-in-people-s/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I can't even vote in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-can-t-even-vote-in-america/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [Sitting out of politics isn't really an option if you don't want things to slide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/sitting-out-of-politics-isn-t-really-an-option-if-you-don-t-want/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [Very sorry to hear about the shooting at the Family Research Council. Thoughts are with the guard, but glad he was there to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/very-sorry-to-hear-about-the-shooting-at-the-family-research-council/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [True badassery has no gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/true-badassery-has-no-gender/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I am not a supporter of separatism. I am from Toronto, my dad grew up in Montreal, I believe it should all be part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-am-not-a-supporter-of-separatism-i-am-from-toronto-my-dad-grew-up/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I didn't know the comic at all, which is really funny because I grew up here and I had friends who worked at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-didn-t-know-the-comic-at-all-which-is-really-funny-because-i-grew/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I didn't like most of my boyfriends. I'm a perfect example of somebody who will make it work no matter what. Like, I once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-didn-t-like-most-of-my-boyfriends-i-m-a-perfect-example-of-somebody/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [The script is a bible and it's this unchangeable document that somebody spent years and years on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/the-script-is-a-bible-and-it-s-this-unchangeable-document-that/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) [Explore all 64 Alison Pill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was a religious experience to pick up a gun. 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