I agree with this whole heartedly. Specifically when dealing with creationists in my experience. The pearl clutching is just the most infuriatingly cringy thing to me. Their religion has become a person, religion is an innocent defenseless character to them. It becomes this weird imaginary child they need to protect. Once you have questioned or mocked their “child” they throw themselves into this hammed up routine. Like some soccer player rolling on the field pretending his leg is snapped in half to garner some sympathy from the imaginary referee. I would swear it is part self aggrandizing. It’s like their own weird display of mental martyrdom for their imaginary god referee thingy, that they think is watching them at all times.
Maybe off topic, but does anyone think some of these people misplace their own inner mental dialogue (whatever the more scientific terminology is) as divine? That their intrusive thoughts are seen as a message from something divine.