When is a Religious Belief Delusional?

[Whateverist]

To think there may be a deeper level of reality is not delusional. To act as though there is, is.

To claim you know stuff about it, also is. I'd be shocked if there isn't "more going on" than we can detect; perhaps that we will ever detect. That's not the same as acting like you have special information about it.

Especially when that special information is in a special book whose specialness is vouchsafed by that very same book.

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PS: to my earlier point, say I have a religious belief in gravity.

Me too! I'm calling it The Force. As someone who has skateboarded down hills I am in fact a force user.

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A stronger level of delusion happens when it is believed that the gnomes and unicorns need to be fed or treated well in order for my garden to grow. Perhaps that involves watering my garden (so the gnomes and unicorns are not thirsty). The fact that my garden then grows is taken as further proof of the existence of the gnomes and unicorns. this is the level of most religious believers. The beliefs affect their lives by taking up substantial time and energy, but there are side benefits unrelated to the actual belief that have positive effects.

An even strong level is when there is a belief that the gnomes and unicorns are everywhere and need to be appeased all the time. This can start having significant negative effects on the rest of life, including loss of friends, etc. This is closer to the level of a fundamentalist, but one who allows that others have rights also.

Finally, there is the level where I think that displeasing gnomes and unicorns is so dangerous that I am willing to imprison or kill anyone who questions their existence or the methods used to appease them. This is seriously dangerous to others. This is the level of ISIS or Jim Jones.

Anyone unwilling to sacrifice a virgin to appease the gnomes and unicorns is not a true gardener.