When is a Religious Belief Delusional?

[Whateverist]

History is a hard area for me to think about in these terms.  Confirmation bias is always in play.

Fair enough. It seems implausible to me that all the NT scholars, such as N. T. Wright, who do know history and remain Christians are suffering from delusions. It seems to me that a reasonable person, such as yourself, would be willing to condemn the incendiary rhetoric of those who claim all religious beliefs are delusions.

And yes, confirmation bias is indeed something everyone should guard themselves against, believers and skeptics alike.

I don't endorse it but neither do I feel the need to characterize religious beliefs in an inflammatory manner.  But then I know a couple believers who hold their beliefs in a manner that puts the lie to those descriptions.  Not all atheists who have had the good fortune to meet the unicorns I have.  If they have been mistreated by the religious communities in which they grew up when they decided to abandon those beliefs, it is entirely understandable if emotion colors the way they describe religious belief.  What really is the harm?  I don't think it is any worse than continually being asked why we hate God or having our time wasted by zealots intent on saving our souls.