Understanding religious delusion [View all]

[SecularMotion]

Let's imagine that I tell you the following story:

• There is a man who lives at the North Pole.
  
• He lives there with his wife and a bunch of elves.
  
• During the year, he and the elves build toys.
  
• Then, on Christmas Eve, he loads up a sack with all the toys.
  
• He puts the sack in his sleigh.
  
• He hitches up eight (or possibly nine) flying reindeer.
  
• He then flies from house to house, landing on the rooftops of each one.
  
• He gets out with his sack and climbs down the chimney.
  
• He leaves toys for the children of the household.
  
• He climbs back up the chimney, gets back in his sleigh, and flies to the next house.
  
• He does this all around the world in one night.
  
• Then he flies back to the North Pole to repeat the cycle next year.

This, of course, is the story of Santa Claus.

But let's say that I am an adult, and I am your friend, and I reveal to you that I believe that this story is true. I believe it with all my heart. And I try to talk about it with you and convert you to believe it as I do.

What would you think of me? You would think that I am delusional, and rightly so.

http://godisimaginary.com/i7.htm