Page 140 - The Religion Of The Ignorant

THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT

Among believers, on the other hand, that ethic promotes superior
moral values such as dignity, seriousness, honor and nobility.
Passion constitutes the bedrock of the behavior required in the
workplace in the Religion of the Ignorant. A burning desire to earn
money, a passion to lead, or a passion for fame are highly regarded.
That's why a materialist atmosphere to a large extent pervades
workplaces. All behavior and attitudes, all conversation, are aimed
at obtaining money and position. Employees have specific duties
and positions. Everyone conforms to the mould of their own job de-
scription. The general behavior of most employees is ruled by giv-
ing the appearance of being very busy, irritable behavior, a tense
expression and haste.
The Ignorantist boss speaks and behaves with the ease im-
parted by being the proprietor or the one who hands out wages. He
can shout at, insult or humiliate the person in front of him. He is the
one who hands out money. He needn't show the same respect to
those beneath him as he does to others. He does, however, expect
great respect to be shown to him. Those under his command must
put up with everything he does. There is a kind of slave logic in the
relationship between employer and employee. The boss imagines
that he has freedom to behave however he likes to anyone whose
salary he pays, and to address and use him as he chooses.
Business terminology is employed even in normal office con-
versations. In foreign countries, English terminology from the pro-
fession concerned is constantly employed—appropriately or not
and whether the other party understands or not—as a means of put-
ting on airs. There are even ways of holding the telephone.
Disapproving of one another's work and constantly correcting it in a
know-it-all way are widespread among employees. There is intense
internal office gossip. Longstanding employees know all one an-

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