--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't go taking that gospel stuff…" description: "\"Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to clean you out now and then, but it ain't for real. It's like bad whiskey. Run through you fas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png" --- # Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to… ![“Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to clean you out now and then, but it ain't for real. It's like bad whiskey. Run through you fast and leave you with pain.” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png) > “Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to clean you out now and then, but it ain't for real. It's like bad whiskey. Run through you fast and leave you with pain.” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious fervor can be intoxicating yet ultimately painful, like cheap whiskey. **In simple terms:** Blind faith can be harmful. Key Takeaway Question dogma. Themes faith skepticism disillusionment Mood cynical reflective Type critical satirical When to use this quote - spiritual crises - cultural critique Key Concepts religion personal belief Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy belief from harmful zeal? - What alternatives provide meaning? A Different Perspective May overlook positive aspects of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Whiskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiskey/) ## Related quotes > [The blues and gospel stuff seemed to go together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-blues-and-gospel-stuff-seemed-to-go-together/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [It's important not to take all this fashion stuff too seriously, and I kind of love the idea of cheesiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-altuzarra/it-s-important-not-to-take-all-this-fashion-stuff-too-seriously-and-i/) [Joseph Altuzarra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-altuzarra/) > [I do like taking stuff seriously that a lot of people look at as nonsense. I enjoy the insanity of that. And I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/i-do-like-taking-stuff-seriously-that-a-lot-of-people-look-at-as/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [I just don't take stuff too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandra-wilson/i-just-don-t-take-stuff-too-seriously/) [Chandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandra-wilson/) > [I've never been one to say I know exactly that we're in the last days, but there's some things happening these days, both good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-ve-never-been-one-to-say-i-know-exactly-that-we-re-in-the-last-days/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Surely taking the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people is the single greatest responsibility we have in mortality. ... We have been privileged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/surely-taking-the-gospel-to-every-kindred-tongue-and-people-is-the/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [There isn't anything else more important than taking the gospel to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/there-isn-t-anything-else-more-important-than-taking-the-gospel-to/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [If we were left to ourselves with the task of taking the gospel to the world, we would immediately begin planning innovative strategies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/if-we-were-left-to-ourselves-with-the-task-of-taking-the-gospel-to/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“motive, When you learn these things I've told you, ~When you know them, when you do them, ~Then I will depart and leave you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lindlahr/motive-when-you-learn-these-things-i-ve-told-you-when-you-know-them/) Henry Lindlahr > [If you were a wound inside my heart, Id rather leave it there with all the pain locked inside than leave it without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-were-a-wound-inside-my-heart-id-rather-leave-it-there-with-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Today I want to leave the world I want to leave the pain Leave the heartache I know where it is going I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-nichole/today-i-want-to-leave-the-world-i-want-to-leave-the-pain-leave-the/) [April Nichole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-nichole/) > [ATTACHMENT can leave a memory that no one can steal, but ATTACHEMENT can also leave a pain that no one can heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theheartcatcher/attachment-can-leave-a-memory-that-no-one-can-steal-but-attachement/) [Theheartcatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theheartcatcher/) > [Keep the Smile, Leave the Tension, Feel the Joy, Forget the Worry, Hold the Peace, Leave the Pain, And most of them all, BE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/keep-the-smile-leave-the-tension-feel-the-joy-forget-the-worry-hold/) Pacifiersucker > [Loathesome I am, and evil. You can mock me for that. But leave my pain alone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnabas/loathesome-i-am-and-evil-you-can-mock-me-for-that-but-leave-my-pain/) [Barnabas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnabas/) > [“Don't take my pain away, leave my pain right there, you could even put more pain inside my pain and it wouldn't bother me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillaume-morissette/don-t-take-my-pain-away-leave-my-pain-right-there-you-could-even-put/) [Guillaume Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillaume-morissette/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to clean you out now and then, but it ain't for real. It's like bad whiskey. Run through you fast and leave you with pain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy Allison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriously-it-s-nice-to-clean-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriously-it-s-nice-to-clean-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/dorothy-allison-2041_christianity_don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriou_2800834.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't go taking that gospel stuff seriously. It's nice to clean you out now and then, but it ain't for real…” — Dorothy Allison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dorothy Allison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't go taking that gospel stuff...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriously-it-s-nice-to-clean-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/don-t-go-taking-that-gospel-stuff-seriously-it-s-nice-to-clean-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```