A great train of thought here.

I believe everyone has a religion. It is where we park our value system.

Back in my younger days, I would go to the pub Friday and Saturday night instead fo church on Sunday morning. I would say "Buy another round" instead of "Glory Hallelejah".

My god was the good life portrayed by beer commercials.

Once in this preposterious thinking, it takes a great effort to break away from it.

The Trump base is a religion. They can't leave because their personal identify is tied up in that religion. So too are their social contacts and support networks. To wake up and say "I was wrong" is like losing a good part of your life.

To be fair, most of have a religion like this.