When is a Religious Belief Delusional?

[robvalue]

One way in which I have improved and refined my beliefs is in regard to this kind of topic. I used to think religious people must be stupid, crazy or both. Now I don't think it implies either of those things. I understand that the way people come about their beliefs is complex, and highly dependent on their surroundings and upbringing.

Hell, I might actually be dreaming right now, or in a coma, or dribbling in a hospital bed. Or just too plain stupid to see what's really going on. Without any way to challenge a delusion I might have, I'm powerless to do anything about it. The whole point of a delusion is that you don't think/know it's a delusion. All I can do is challenge my assumptions and beliefs as much as I can.

Theists should consider themselves really lucky they have arse holes like me, who can present to them the case that they are indeed deluded. I don't think any less of them for being so, it could have just as easily been me. No one comes forward to present a case to me that I'm actually dreaming, or dribbling away in a corner, because that would mean none of you exist outside my own mind anyway.

What was I talking about again? Oh yeah. It doesn't matter if I'm dreaming or not, I have to continue regardless. Maybe I wake up, maybe I don't.