Instead of asking

[robvalue]

Does bending the rules of credulity and evidence to permit one huge set of beliefs make you more likely to do the same thing in other cases?

Interestingly enough, I find that those who bend the rules of credulity in relation to religion, especially when they are doctors or scientists, still abide by the secular rules of their stated profession.

I believe the exception takes place in extreme circumstances.

Crazy religious woman who drowns her kids because she heard god tell her to do so.  She obviously had psychological problems.

That is interesting. I haven't had enough experience with religious professionals to be able to make a judgement on that. Or at least I don't know who is religious and who isn't.

The problem with religious thinking is that it legitimizes the crazy woman. God told her to do such and such. When other theists are also obeying what "god tells them to do" on a regular basis, it's rather hypocritical of them to call out someone else as being obviously crazy because they don't like what god told that person to do.