Delusion: A delusion is a belief that is clearly false and that
indicates an abnormality in the affected person’s content of thought.
The key feature of a delusion is the degree to which the person is
convinced that the belief is true. A person with a delusion will hold
firmly to the belief regardless of evidence to the contrary. A person
with a delusion is absolutely convinced that the delusion is real.
Here is Theodor Herzl, a Hungarian Jew, being very delusional:
1. His Majesty issue a most gracious invitation to the Jews to return
to the land their fathers.
2. If it is God’s will that we return to our historic fatherland.
3. It goes without saying that the Jewish people can have no other
goal than Palestine and that, whatever the fate of the proposition may
be, our attitude toward the land of our fathers is and shall remain
unchangeable.
4. Only the Promised Land, the land of their ancestors calls to all of
them
5. Our return to the land of our fathers, foretold by Holy Writ, sung
by poets, desired with tears by the poor of our people, and derided by
pitiable mockers, is an event of the greatest political interest to
all the powers concerned in the affairs of Asia.
6. Palestine is our ever-memorable historic home. The very name of
Palestine would attract our people with a force of marvellous potency.
7. Palestine is their cradle; that is where they wish to return
8. The pious Christians of England would help us if we went to
Palestine. For they expect the coming of the Messiah after the Jews
have returned home.
9. The Sultan could ceremoniously invite the Jews to return to their
historic homeland.
10. There is truly something miraculous about the development of the
movement for the return of the Jews.