"But there ARE penalties attached to blindly believing in the supernatural despite all evidence, just as there are penalties to any other delusion."

Yes, Mrzzy, like the delusion that being presented with a choice between voting Republican or Democratic is a viable way of maintaining real democracy... ;-) (this one carries really severe penalties!)

Or like the delusion called the "trickle-down" theory...

Or like the delusion that fame and wealth will make you happy....

Or like the delusion that unchecked free market forces will automatically solve all of humanity's problems and make everything better...

It's endless, really.