--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So what actually goes on with all this…" description: "\"“So what actually goes on with all this religion business? Does it really matter whether you’re a Gnostic, a Christian, a Muslim, a Shi’ite, a Hindu, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/karl-wiggins-10879_absolution_so-what-actually-goes-on-with-all-this-r_928594.jpg" --- # So what actually goes on with all this religion business?… ![“So what actually goes on with all this religion business? Does it really matter whether you’re a Gnostic, a Christian, a Muslim, a Shi’ite, a Hindu, a Taoist, a Rosicrucian, a Jew, a Witch or a Jehovah’s Witness? Not in the slightest. (Well, it might matter if you’re a Jehovah’s Witness). Does it…” quote by Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/karl-wiggins-10879_absolution_so-what-actually-goes-on-with-all-this-r_928594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/karl-wiggins-10879_absolution_so-what-actually-goes-on-with-all-this-r_928594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/karl-wiggins-10879_absolution_so-what-actually-goes-on-with-all-this-r_928594.jpg) > ““So what actually goes on with all this religion business? Does it really matter whether you’re a Gnostic, a Christian, a Muslim, a Shi’ite, a Hindu, a Taoist, a Rosicrucian, a Jew, a Witch or a Jehovah’s Witness? Not in the slightest. (Well, it might matter if you’re a Jehovah’s Witness). Does it matter if you follow the teachings of Confucius, Buddha, Ramakrishna or Mary Baker Eddy? Of course not. Does it matter if your ritual object or talisman is a cup, an amulet, a tabernacle, a horseshoe, holy water, a wishbone, a Sanctus bell, a St. Christopher, a baptismal font, a rabbit’s foot, rosary beads, a broomstick or a seven-branched candlestick? No, it’s just something to focus your mind on. The real power is within you. Just as long as it doesn’t become a cop-out. Which it so often does. Why? I’ll tell you. Because Rag, Tag & Bobtail are not willing to take responsibility for their own lives. They need someone to tell them what to do and what to believe. But in reality you don’t need anyone. It’s all there inside you. You grant your own absolution. Hey, it’s your life! You certainly have more control over your ultimate destiny than a priest.”” [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that religious labels and rituals are irrelevant; true power lies within each individual, and reliance on external authority hinders personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Religion is just a focus; real power is inside you. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own life. Themes individualism spirituality responsibility authority self‑empowerment Mood reflective assertive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - overcoming dependency - mindfulness practice - seeking inner purpose Key Concepts existentialism psychology religious studies Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance inner authority with communal wisdom? - What rituals, if any, help you focus your mind? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of community support and shared traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolution/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Holy water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-water/) [Jehovah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jehovah/) [Jehovah Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jehovah-witness-254420/) [Matter Jehovah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-jehovah-1494077/) [Real power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-power/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-business-956069/) [Religion-and-philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-and-philosophy/) [Religion-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-quotations/) [Religion-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-quotes/) [Rosary beads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rosary-beads/) [Witch Jehovah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-jehovah-1494078/) ## Related quotes > [For me, religion is serious business - a farrago of authoritarian nonsense, misogyny and humble pie, the eternal enemy of human happiness and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katha-pollitt/for-me-religion-is-serious-business-a-farrago-of-authoritarian/) [Katha Pollitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katha-pollitt/) > [The time has come to knock off this religion business in American politics. There's no end to the mischief that can occur. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-p-weicker-jr/the-time-has-come-to-knock-off-this-religion-business-in-american/) [Lowell P. Weicker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowell-p-weicker-jr/) > [Government needs to stay out of the religion business altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-newdow/government-needs-to-stay-out-of-the-religion-business-altogether/) [Michael Newdow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-newdow/) > [“Terrorism is not an ideology of any religion; it is a business policy of weapon-selling countries like America,israel and france.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/terrorism-is-not-an-ideology-of-any-religion-it-is-a-business-policy/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [To learn the worth of a man's religion, do business with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/to-learn-the-worth-of-a-man-s-religion-do-business-with-him/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Every man's religion is his own, and nobody else's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/every-man-s-religion-is-his-own-and-nobody-else-s-business/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Business is religion, and religion is business. The man who does not make a business of his religion has a religious life of no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/business-is-religion-and-religion-is-business-the-man-who-does-not/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [ \[The\] men of the technostructure are the new and universal priesthood. Their religion is business success; their test of virtue is growth and profit.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-men-of-the-technostructure-are-the-new-and-universal-priesthood/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [You of the West are practical in business, practical in great inventions, but we of the East are practical in religion. You make commerce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/you-of-the-west-are-practical-in-business-practical-in-great/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I'm wide awake... Jehovah is my witness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efiosiugbore-adebayo/i-m-wide-awake-jehovah-is-my-witness/) [Efiosiugbore Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efiosiugbore-adebayo/) > [I was often looked at as a leper by kids at school because I was a Jehovah's Witness. They didn't like it - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-was-often-looked-at-as-a-leper-by-kids-at-school-because-i-was-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I got a sense of the amazingness of ordinary life, and I became aware of the marvel that we're around to begin with. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-got-a-sense-of-the-amazingness-of-ordinary-life-and-i-became-aware/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [My father is a Jehovah's Witness, and he raised us under a very strict hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/my-father-is-a-jehovah-s-witness-and-he-raised-us-under-a-very-strict/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [While travelling near Tampa, Florida I passed the "Jehovah's Witness Assembly Hall" and was struck by the fact that that must be where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/while-travelling-near-tampa-florida-i-passed-the-jehovah-s-witness/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) ## More by Karl Wiggins > [“It's a difficult path that we tread, us Indie self-publishers, but we're not alone. How many bands practicing in their dad’s garage have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/it-s-a-difficult-path-that-we-tread-us-indie-self-publishers-but-we/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“As they call last orders, he’ll walk over to a girl he’s no doubt slept with before, pour half his pint over his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/as-they-call-last-orders-he-ll-walk-over-to-a-girl-he-s-no-doubt/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“The opinions, eloquence and articulacy of the man or woman on the street can often be as invaluable as precious stones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/the-opinions-eloquence-and-articulacy-of-the-man-or-woman-on-the/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“What has officially been declared as the basis of theological studies in the Roman Catholic Church has been enormously influenced by Islam and Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/what-has-officially-been-declared-as-the-basis-of-theological-studies/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“If someone skilled at studying moons, planets, stars and other celestial bodies such as galaxies, comets, asteroids and gamma-ray bursts were to analyse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/if-someone-skilled-at-studying-moons-planets-stars-and-other/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“Go searching for your own tribe! And at no time conceal or camouflage your true self. You never know who may be out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/go-searching-for-your-own-tribe-and-at-no-time-conceal-or-camouflage/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“When leaving the ground, our ears were assaulted by language that you wouldn’t normally hear on a building site. In fact, most people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/when-leaving-the-ground-our-ears-were-assaulted-by-language-that-you/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“I’m not interested in hearing from those who preach joy or talk such crap about ‘positivity pledges’ about not allowing negative thoughts to drain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/i-m-not-interested-in-hearing-from-those-who-preach-joy-or-talk-such/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“Have you seen the state of some of these vegetarians? They look like they’re going to drop down dead any minute. We didn’t fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/have-you-seen-the-state-of-some-of-these-vegetarians-they-look-like/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“Wrong Planet people tend to dress slightly differently from Rag, Tag & Bobtail. My son, Kai, always used to say that I have my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/wrong-planet-people-tend-to-dress-slightly-differently-from-rag-tag/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“The Gypsy heart is full of wonder, their souls deep with dreams and their inspiration full of mystery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/the-gypsy-heart-is-full-of-wonder-their-souls-deep-with-dreams-and/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“With a horse and cart, a ferret, a dog and a gun, who could not be happy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/with-a-horse-and-cart-a-ferret-a-dog-and-a-gun-who-could-not-be-happy/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“The Gypsies favour hazardous and threatening freedom over serene and tranquil servitude any day of the week.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/the-gypsies-favour-hazardous-and-threatening-freedom-over-serene-and/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“We look at the way some kids behave and instantly blame the parents, and more often than not we’re correct. The school bully is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/we-look-at-the-way-some-kids-behave-and-instantly-blame-the-parents/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“As a Wrong Planet person you may at times appear to be unsociable. You’re often dispassionate when it comes to the activities of others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/as-a-wrong-planet-person-you-may-at-times-appear-to-be-unsociable-you/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) [Explore all 63 Karl Wiggins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) ## More Absolution quotes > [I tell you, guilt dwells nowhere but in the eyes of the accuser. This men know even as they deny it, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/i-tell-you-guilt-dwells-nowhere-but-in-the-eyes-of-the-accuser-this/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [It is by far the most elegant worship, hardly excepting the Greek mythology. What with incense, pictures, statues, altars, shrines, relics, and the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-by-far-the-most-elegant-worship-hardly-excepting-the-greek/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“There's a price for absolution on this planet, and it's called penance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/there-s-a-price-for-absolution-on-this-planet-and-it-s-called-penance/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“There's absolution and purity to fucking that strips people back to their primal core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/there-s-absolution-and-purity-to-fucking-that-strips-people-back-to/) [Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/) > [From sorrow to serenity, the truth is absolution, from sorrow to serenity, its on your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killswitch-engage/from-sorrow-to-serenity-the-truth-is-absolution-from-sorrow-to/) [Killswitch Engage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killswitch-engage/) > [“Being alone will show you who you really are, and if you cannot get-on positively as the sole master of your space in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/being-alone-will-show-you-who-you-really-are-and-if-you-cannot-get-on/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Our own acts are isolated and one act does not buy absolution for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/our-own-acts-are-isolated-and-one-act-does-not-buy-absolution-for/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“Time made apologies and absolution unnecessary. Time didn't really heal, it just made bad memories distant so that the brain couldn't recapture the lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amulya-malladi/time-made-apologies-and-absolution-unnecessary-time-didn-t-really/) [Amulya Malladi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amulya-malladi/) > [“Pause your opinions, debating and absolute knowing for long enough to conceive gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/pause-your-opinions-debating-and-absolute-knowing-for-long-enough-to/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Psychoanalysis is confession without absolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/psychoanalysis-is-confession-without-absolution/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I find something repulsive about the idea of vicarious redemption. I would not throw my numberless sins onto a scapegoat and expect them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-find-something-repulsive-about-the-idea-of-vicarious-redemption-i/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-the-confession-not-the-priest-that-gives-us-absolution/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [There is nothing absolute and final. If everything were ironclad, all the rules absolute and everything structured so no paradox or irony existed, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-bentov/there-is-nothing-absolute-and-final-if-everything-were-ironclad-all/) [Itzhak Bentov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-bentov/) > [The truth brings with it a great measure of absolution, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-laing/the-truth-brings-with-it-a-great-measure-of-absolution-always/) [R. D. Laing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-laing/) > [For one thing, the Catholic Church in particular has this one thing - confession - in which you could go, confess to a priest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/for-one-thing-the-catholic-church-in-particular-has-this-one-thing/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) [Browse all 89 Absolution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So what actually goes on with all this religion business? Does it really matter whether you’re a Gnostic, a Christian, a Muslim, a Shi’ite, a Hindu, a Taoist, a Rosicrucian, a Jew, a Witch or a Jehovah’s Witness? Not in the slightest. (Well, it might matter if you’re a Jehovah’s Witness). Does it matter if you follow the teachings of Confucius, Buddha, Ramakrishna or Mary Baker Eddy? Of course not. Does it matter if your ritual object or talisman is a cup, an amulet, a tabernacle, a horseshoe, holy water, a wishbone, a Sanctus bell, a St. Christopher, a baptismal font, a rabbit’s foot, rosary beads, a broomstick or a seven-branched candlestick? No, it’s just something to focus your mind on. The real power is within you. Just as long as it doesn’t become a cop-out. Which it so often does. Why? I’ll tell you. Because Rag, Tag & Bobtail are not willing to take responsibility for their own lives. They need someone to tell them what to do and what to believe. But in reality you don’t need anyone. It’s all there inside you. You grant your own absolution. Hey, it’s your life! 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