These people are not necessarily ignorant .The world is populated with many extremely intelligent religious people .IQ and religiosity have no correlation, this is a proven fact .Just read up on the scientific studies . .Andrew Magdy Kamal is one of many examples.Apparently he has the highest IQ ever recorded 231.734 .Being religious and believing in a god has to do with brainwashing and cultural indoctrination from birth.

To be that ignorant to think that every believer and religious person has a form of insanity is insanity in itself .Also I see that anyone that challenged your ridiculous claim is negatively treated in your replies which indicates you are a close minded individual.You ask for members thoughts ,but what you really wanted were only people to reinforce your stupid idea .All your thoughts on this subject are layman’s ideas and are not based on studies ,psychology or anything of value.

What nonsense.People believe in god and follow a religion due to their culture,environment, parents and so on . Are children delusional or insane because they believe in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy,of course not ,they have been taught into believing in this,the same as believers.

My thoughts are that to label religious people Insane or delusional is preposterous.Some of the most brilliant people in history were religious believers such as Galielo,Isaac Newton ,Louis Pasteur,Copernicus,Marconi ,Just to name a few.

In my opinion , is the person a good person , is a lot more important , than labeling them . If I know someone who will see to it that you get to a hospital when you need to be there , no questions asked , I don't care what their beliefs are based on . I don't need the fairy tales , but sometimes others do . In some cases , religion is a crutch , it's guidance , it's a social network , it's a team working towards a common goal , and these are not necessairly bad things . For instance , when people come together to build a new hospital , or a shelter for the homeless , or soup kitchens , these are great things . If they're doing this , but the only thing you're doing , is looking for appropriate bully labels , then I'd prefer to be with the fairy tale believers .

To all the delusional arm chair experts who think religious people and believers are delusional .Delusions are only diagnosed if they’re not consistent with the persons existing belief system and views.A devout creationist talks to God while in church, that’s fine.An avowedly atheist lawyer starts doing it in a middle of a meeting,this persons probably delusional.If both of them suddenly started saying the world is going to end in 30 minutes because of angry frogs living in the sun,they’d both be considered delusional.

I tend to think that 'deluded' is a better term for the rampant Faithfools than delusional is.
I.e. they HAVE been deluded from an early age and know no different simply because, imho, they lack what it takes to view both sides of the topic.
Deluding a person with, perhaps, a weak will, etc, is how religions have thrived and multiplied for centuries, IF the 'weak will' can be strengthened enough then the corrosive and destructive influences of the religion/s will steadily lessen and eventually be replaced by Reasoning and Logic, etc.
However, having said that, in some cases such a task would be like trying to remove a mountain by using a teaspoon and a thimble.

Ya know... I've found that certain people are willing and able to introspect. Some people are hell-bent against it. Some people wouldn't, in a million years, consider meditation or even trying yoga. It can be scary to connect to yourself, or to disconnect to observe from the outside. These are the wizard of oz's people who consistently choose to not look behind the curtain.

I believe that what you are talking about may be due to the same issue. If one is prone to being non-introspective, my bet is that one is also less prone to questioning societal norms or a societal belief system (ie, thoughts that came from outside versus inside).

When confronted with a non-introspector, I often, in my bones, have a reaction that tells me they are practicing willful ignorance. But, what if that is just the voice of my introspection abilities/propensity when being confronted with an opposing way to live? It sure does seem like life would be easier if one could not-introspect, but I'd not choose to be that way if I could.

So...what if this delusionalness is just a manifestation of the way they are, as humans, deep in their psyche? Instead of blaming, shaming or stigmatizing...what if it's just part of the standard human deviation?

Yep nuttier than squirrel poop

I take a simple approach as I am totally non-delusional.

I agree. It's degrees of insanity. If you fit within the normal threshold for insanity, you don't get institutionalized.

Ignorant and delusional both have negative connotations and will immediately put people in defensive mode making it impossible to enlighten them with logic.

If the goal is to just be combative and superior then either option is fine and of little significant difference.

If the goal is discourse or education then something better must be thought of. Something that’s less on the nose and has at least a chance of making them think rather than automatically engaging their belief defense mode.

I had a thought about what it could be when I started writing this. Now I’ve forgotten it! Ahh well, maybe some of you have good ideas.

I think it’s deeper than ignorance too, delusion is a much more accurate, stronger term for what’s going on. It’s a typical symptom of mental illness yeah, but clinically inevitable mental illness is not the only way to be deluded.

Delusion - an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.

The incidental extra info is that this is symptomatic of mental disorders, but the meat of that definition is all spot on exactly what’s happening. And in a way a lot of em could be considered to have a mental disorder I’m sure, but the term doesn’t automatically let them off the hook, and to a certain extent most people who were indoctrinated early enough probably deserve to be cut some slack. It’s not that they’re stupid and their ignorance is only a small part of what’s going on. They’re brainwashed, and set into a system where they’re afraid that questioning will damn them to hell. It’s a big hurdle to get over when education of oneself is stigmatized with the threat of eternal punishment. They’ve been set up with mental blocks that are just as detrimental in a lot of ways as a naturally occurring disorder.

It's going to play out the way it's going to play out. They're doing their part and you're doing your part. It's Evolution, baby.

I don’t like either label. They think differently than I do. That’s it.

Some of the faithful can probably be diagnosable. But we all have remarkable ability to suspend disbelief. Which explains movies, and to a large extent, Trump supporters....

And as to ignorance. We are all ignorant; it's just a matter of degree. I doubt the majority of our ignorance is truly "willful." But we do have the talent to lie to ourselves, so in that sense, perhaps it is willful.

Some are in denial of science, and need the security offered by a supposed perfect being who watches over (them/us) all.

If we punish the religious for being so, we have become what we hate. The United States has freedom of religion because, for on thing, you can not require belief. They alone can change their perspective. The only thing we can do is address their confusions about us when they are expressed.

I agree with your partner. Willfully ignoring their intellect and sensibilities.

Self Deluded rather than delusional, but I also prefer the term willfully ignorant.

Fear, insecurity, lazy thinking, lack of personal responsibility. Some folks want a playbook that let's them off the hook for decision-making while protecting their reputation among the other non-thinkers.

Your only referring to Christian doctrine and Catholic at that! Perhaps widen your scope and a different picture may arise.

This is rooted in deep psychology. Perhaps it will give a broader understanding in that context.

Many Christians will call atheist delusional, some put them at the level of a rapists. I finally have given up dating religious women because I can't be saved and I am agnostic. My daughter is agnostic and she thinks I am too hard on them. I am too tired of hearing about God done everything for us and gets credit for everything I do well. God is their ultimate love, I am somewhere inline of 4th place along their love for their dog.

Willfully ignorant, truly ignorant, mentally ill, dishonest, corrupt, frightened, there may be many reasons, and most believers will have a little of more than one. But I do not want to put any on the hook except the rich exploiting minority perhaps. It is far better to talk and set good examples, it will take time but but quick results usually unravel quickly, it took chistianity a thousand years plus to become established to the point it is, things change faster perhaps in the digital age, but not that quickly.