"It's not about religion, it's about a relationship"

So I was talking to this kid today who I am not really friends with, more like acquaintances that met through more acquaintances. He invited me to go to the Summit, which is this religious activity center, to play volleyball or something. I was only ever to this place once in my life for some shitty-ass show, but the headlining band was pretty good I suppose. Anyways, I didn't really fit in or feel comfortable then, so now when it's solely a religious event, I would not feel comfortable at all. So I told him that I don't think I really fit in there at all. He tried to play it off like I wouldn't fit in because I am straight edge, which is not the case whatsoever. So I told him that it isn't because of my edge and then he admitted that he knew that's not what I was referencing.

So we got to talking about, you guessed it, some religious BS. As you could guess, it didn't really go anywhere, as both of us are very zealous about our own personal beliefs. Then as I was rambling about religion and it's greed, corruption and war-mongering, the title quote came into play. Now, I have been hearing this more and more lately. I had never really heard this before at all until just recently, "It's not about religion, it's about a relationship." When he said this, I really got to thinking, as I have before when I hear this expression. Well, I kind of came up with my own quote or expression to counter this one. While it may not be as quick and simple as this one, it gets the job done: "If you had a relationship with an invisible man named Bill, you'd be considered crazy, but since you have a relationship with an invisible man named God, you're safe."

Now, since I came up with it, my opinion on it doesn't matter, but I'd say it makes a hell of a lot of sense. Those people who have "imaginary friends" and the like are all considered to have mental issues. Yet, we are surrounded by millions, even BILLIONS of people who have an imaginary frien...er...relationship with God. "But wait," you say, "people who have 'imaginary' friends 'talk' to them and 'interact' with them. That's why they are nuts!" Well, I have one word to say to you: praying. 'Talking' to and 'interacting' with an invisible being. Seems to be the same thing to me. I just don't understand it at all. Could someone please explain to me what the difference is? Please don't say, "You can just feel God's presence and hear his voice when he talks to you and wants or needs to hear you." I'm pretty sure that's what people say about their imaginary friends, or voices in their head or whatever they hear and interact with.

Now, I'm not trying to really say that religious people are insane, because that would be mean and sound intolerable. I actually want to hear what the separating line between insanity and religion is. Or what people think it is if you are atheist, agnostic, or nothing!