Brands Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
“the fastest-growing brand of religion is of the magical 'name it and claim it' variety, in which the deity exists only to meet one's immediate, self-identified needs.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The New Religion of Self‑Help”, 2005
Self‑help culture treats deities as tools for personal gain, ignoring deeper spirituality.
In simple terms: Spirituality reduced to personal convenience.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper meaning beyond utility.
Themes
spirituality
consumerism
self‑help
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- personal development
- marketing of religious movements
- therapy
- coaching
Key Concepts
materialism
psychology
faith
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal growth with deeper purpose?
- What are the limits of “name it and claim it”?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on quick fixes can hollow belief.
![“What would it mean in practice to eliminate all the 'negative people' from one's life [as demanded by motivational speaker J.P. Maroney]? It might be a good idea to separate from a chronically carping spouse, but it is not so easy to abandon the whiny toddler, the colicky infant, or the sullen…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/187/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_abandon_what-would-it-mean-in-practice-to-elimin_140275.jpg)
![“Robert Jackall’s book [ Moral Mazes ] impressed on me that corporate dress serves a far more important function than mere body covering. “Proper management of one’s external appearances,” he writes, “simply signals to one’s superiors that one is prepared to undertake other kinds of…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_attire_robert-jackall-s-book-moral-mazes-impres_186386.jpg)
![“You might discover that, nationwide, America's food banks are experiencing 'a torrent of need which [they] cannot meet' and that, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 67 percent of the adults requesting emergency food aid are people with jobs.” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f16/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_food_you-might-discover-that-nationwide-ameri_237473.jpg)
![“I don't feel the need to brand myself in that way [social media]. But as a means to share information and raise awareness of things, I think these social-networking platforms are unprecedented.” quote by Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d9/scarlett-johansson-2233_awareness_i-don-t-feel-the-need-to-brand-myself-in_11641.jpg)
![“What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for [Donald] Trump, and do not participate in that brand of animus, that gas-bagging of enormous bigotry.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01d/michael-eric-dyson-1424_animus_what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-c_14940.jpg)
