Page 144 - The Religion Of The Ignorant

THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT

making people think that an expensive item is actually very afford-
able requires professionalism, as the Ignorantism terms it. That, in
any case, is the work ethic of the Religion of the Ignorant. It is
known as the "work" ethic because it is very different from the
moral values of the Qur'an. That ethic encourages sin to be commit-
ted secretly. According to the perverted criteria of the religion of ig-
norantism:
- Under Ignorantism, blatant theft is a violation of the Religion
of the Ignorant. But obtaining unfair advantage for oneself under a
legitimate guise by cutting the job to suit one's cloth is a rule of that
religion.
- Openly taking bribes is forbidden. But bribes under the guise
of gifts are accepted.
- Murder is a grave crime, but not lifting a finger as someone
dies, in order to avoid finding oneself in difficulties, is intelligent be-
havior.
- It is bad form to insult or swear at people to their face, but
backbiting and gossiping behind their back is normal.
- Atheism is bad, but being too religious is also unacceptable.
In addition, Ignorantism has produced a conception of Islam
according to its own lights. According to that perverted concept,
and in contrast to the Qur'an, it is legitimate for someone to perform
only those religious duties that suit him, in a manner appropriate to
the time and place. Yet living the life described by Allah and abiding
by all the laws of Islam is regarded as excessive and is regarded as
not right. The Religion of the Ignorant has produced its own con-
ception of Islam, based on its own logic.

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