--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religious work is one of the best ways to…" description: "\"Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to calm the pain, because that it wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg" --- # Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing… ![“Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to calm the pain, because that it what all addictions are, attempts to cover the pain of this spiritual disease” quote by Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg) > “Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to calm the pain, because that it what all addictions are, attempts to cover the pain of this spiritual disease” [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) ## 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 activity can serve as a coping mechanism that distracts believers from confronting personal suffering, likening it to addiction that masks deeper spiritual distress. **In simple terms:** Religion as a distraction from pain. Key Takeaway Faith can be used to avoid confronting reality. Themes spiritual coping addiction metaphor religious critique psychological avoidance Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type aphoristic critical philosophical When to use this quote - seeking comfort in worship - using prayer to escape personal issues - relying on religious rituals during crisis Key Concepts spiritual disease pain management self-deception Practical Applications - therapy integrating spirituality - counseling addressing avoidance behaviors Questions to Reflect On - How does faith differ from addiction? - When does religious comfort become avoidance? A Different Perspective Some view religious practice as a genuine source of meaning and healing, not merely avoidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-using-383224/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-spiritual-383223/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-work-383222/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-disease-383225/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I was raised a Catholic. But I am not religious. 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We have developed mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/let-me-put-it-this-way-you-cannot-live-in-the-world-without-being-in/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Without your pain you are nothing but a spiritual embryo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/without-your-pain-you-are-nothing-but-a-spiritual-embryo/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“When we cry out to God as a result of our pain and spiritual brokenness He hears us and is compelled to move on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minister-donald-graham-jr/when-we-cry-out-to-god-as-a-result-of-our-pain-and-spiritual/) [Minister Donald Graham Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minister-donald-graham-jr/) > [Pain is a spiritual wake-up call showing you that there are oceans you have not yet explored. Step beyond the world you know. Reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/pain-is-a-spiritual-wake-up-call-showing-you-that-there-are-oceans/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) ## More by Keith Miller > [I am too old to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/i-am-too-old-to-think/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [We can't be intimate because we can't share feelings that we don't have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/we-can-t-be-intimate-because-we-can-t-share-feelings-that-we-don-t/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [The writing of poetry is a chancy business, it's currency solitude and loss, its tools coffee and too much wine, its hours midnight, dawn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/the-writing-of-poetry-is-a-chancy-business-it-s-currency-solitude-and/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [I am six feet tall. 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He loves the whisper of the pages and the way his fingertips catch on rough paper, the pour of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/and-he-loves-to-read-he-loves-the-whisper-of-the-pages-and-the-way/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [The whole Bible is the story of men and women trying to get back to God, to overcome that sin with sacrifices, good works,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/the-whole-bible-is-the-story-of-men-and-women-trying-to-get-back-to/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [I'll tell you what pressure is. Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse. Playing cricket is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/i-ll-tell-you-what-pressure-is-pressure-is-a-messerschmitt-up-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [I am deeply a part of the problem for which Christ died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/i-am-deeply-a-part-of-the-problem-for-which-christ-died/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [“A city of squalls, foggy mornings, intervals of blue and white so immaculate the eyes ached. A city of readers, coffee drinkers, kissers on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/a-city-of-squalls-foggy-mornings-intervals-of-blue-and-white-so/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [A spiritual person is also in touch with his or her own reality, feelings and thoughts, and the reality of the people around him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/a-spiritual-person-is-also-in-touch-with-his-or-her-own-reality/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [Memories must enter the bloodstream, must churn awhile through the heart's mill, must be crushed and polished, be nearly forgotten or cling like burs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/memories-must-enter-the-bloodstream-must-churn-awhile-through-the/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [A lot of us have jobs where we need to give people structure but that is different from controlling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/a-lot-of-us-have-jobs-where-we-need-to-give-people-structure-but-that/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Explore all 49 Keith Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) ## More Addiction quotes > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“Oil. The great addiction of the civilized world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/oil-the-great-addiction-of-the-civilized-world/) [Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/) > [“They say when you fall in love in love with someone that person becomes like a drug,an addiction you don't want to live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-fall-in-love-in-love-with-someone-that-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. 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I get itchy and think, 'I've got to do this.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/it-is-like-an-addiction-i-get-addicted-to-performing-and-touring-i/) [Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/) [Browse all 2,134 Addiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to calm the pain, because that it what all addictions are, attempts to cover the pain of this spiritual disease", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Miller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Addiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/keith-miller-13647_addiction_religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-t_16365.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are…” — Keith Miller", "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": "Keith Miller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Religious work is one of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/#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 } } ] } ```