Artificial and Insincere Speech

Speech helps people express their thoughts and emotions, their wishes and desires, and establish wide-ranging communication with others. In the Religion of the Ignorant, that is to say, where people do not abide by the religion, however, speech has become a means whereby the distorted mindset of that religion is revealed to the outside world. When they speak, adherents of ignorantism reveal all their complexes, personality defects, psychological problems and mental flaws. By means of speech as well as by behavior, most try to give the impression that they are different than what they really are and that they are superior. In this section, we shall consider the speech of adherents of the Religion of the Ignorant in terms of style, content, attitude, and other characteristics.

Ignorantism is a religion of patterns. So long as people implement these patterns, they are popular and appreciated within society. Patterns of speech occupy an important place in human relations, particularly within this false religion. Speech in the Religion of the Ignorant takes place by the most appropriate patterns being selected and used in accordance with prevailing circumstances. Whether the individuals actually mean the words they utter is not relevant at all. Since there is a great difference between what they feel and what they communicate to the outside, members of ignorantism fit the definition of hypocrites. Although hypocrisy is a source of deep shame for any normal person, those who live according to the Religion of the Ignorant are unaware even that they have fallen into a shameful position.

In ignorantism, people learn to give the appearance of loving when they actually hate, of being uncaring when they actually love, of being sad when such is not so, of rejoicing when this is untrue, of laughing or crying when doing so is insincere, and of being astonished when they really feel no reaction at all. They also do all these things in light of the prevailing circumstances.

Since the people around them also possess the same mindsets, they see nothing amiss with falsity and insincerity, and regard them as natural. When their turn comes, they don't hesitate to display the same insincerity and false character. Various forms of insincere speech include:
 

Adopting an exaggerated style to attract greater attention when describing events,

Portraying something banal as something important, and something important as if it were banal,

Making it clear that one knows foreign languages by sprinkling one's speech with foreign words, even when perfectly adequate equivalents in the mother tongue are available,

Behaving as though one had considerable knowledge of the subject being discussed even though one has little actual familiarity with it, and adding something one may have heard about the subject to give the impression that one enjoys a wide mastery,
 

Displaying artificial and exaggerated reactions even though one is utterly unaffected by the subject under discussion, and uttering words that indicate condemnation, sorrow, agreement or support, even though one actually feels none of these. An example would be using parrot cries like, "I don't believe it!" or "I'm flabbergasted," even though one is not the least bit surprised.

Most of this is not sincerely felt. In fact, the listeners are usually well aware that these words are all false. What matters, however, is for these patterns to be used expertly. Insincerity and hypocrisy have become so normal in the Religion of the Ignorant that even if someone does speak honestly and appears sincere, that is referred to as something extraordinary. In circles that live by Ignorantism, people succeed in society to the extent to which they succeed in hypocrisy. Looking at a great many who have come to be admired in society, you can see their expertise at implementing these rules. Men use insincere speech as a means to further their business careers, and women as a means of showing off among family and acquaintances. Their husbands' positions, how their children are doing at school, their wealth, social relations and activities are all duly exaggerated out of all proportion. The following are examples of insincere speech:

Forced laughter at another person's jokes, because it would seem bold not to, or to play up to that person or to curry an advantage from him, even though one actually finds nothing funny at all; adopting an exaggeratedly arrogant style when angered, and using one's tone of voice to make that irritation apparent are among the behavioral disorders experienced by those who live by the religion of the ignorant.