mass delusion
“Of special importance is the case in which substantial numbers of people, acting in concert, try to assure themselves of happiness and protection against suffering through a delusional reshaping of reality. The religions of mankind too must be described as example of mass delusion. Of course, no one who still shares a delusion will ever recognize it as such.” “We never have so little protection against suffering as when we are in love; we are never so desolate when we have lost the object of our love or its love for us....