text sets the tone for this examination by vividly illustrating a metaphorical scene of people engaged in “bootstrap-lifting,” a futile spiritual exercise that keeps them distracted from their actual plight. Sinclair depicts a society entranced by spiritual leaders—the “Wholesale Pickpockets' Association”—who profit from the followers’ devotion while actively encouraging their neglect of material needs. Through this clever allegory, he critiques how religion often distracts individuals from the realities of their economic circumstances and the exploitation inherent within institutionalized faith, suggesting that these religious constructs are entrenched systems that prioritize profit over genuine spiritual growth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)