As a long-time atheist, I'm often asked if I "respect" religion.

[MineralMan]

52. No, I do not.

As I said above, delusions are something different from belief in a religion that has been learned.

I said that, as depicted in the Old Testament, Moses was delusional. I do not believe, of course, that the events actually occured as written. However, I recognize that many people do believe that they were real. Again, it is not what they believe that is the source of my opinion of those persons. It is their actions that are the source, as far as I know them.

If someone tells me that a deity speaks directly to him or her, then I will question that person's mental stability and wonder if he or she is delusional. If, on the other hand, the person tells me that they are a Christian and believe the teachings of Christianity, I will consider them to be religious only. Delusion and religion are not equivalent, in my opinion.

There is a Hmong grandmother who lives two doors from my house. She holds the naturalistic belief that things in nature have spirits that inhabit them. She was disturbed by a set of eyes, nose, and mouth I had attached to the Maple tree in my front yard. I was told this by her son. I removed the face from the tree, so as not to worry her. Now, I do not believe that spirits inhabit trees, but she does. She is a kindly woman with no English, but appears to be an excellent person and a loving grandmother. Out of respect, I removed the thing that offended her. Do I think she is delusional? Of course not. She has the religious beliefs she was taught. That's immaterial to me, even though I think they're silly beliefs. But, I do not wish to cause her any discomfort.