On Hell and Forgiveness

[Catholic_Lady]

For those claiming that theistic beliefs mean a person is delusional, I assume you realize that 17% of people world wide are non religious. Do you really think 83% of the earth's population have delusional disorder? (plus whatever percentage would come from the non religious group). That is an astounding number of people with a pretty serious mental disorder. Maybe we are wrong for having a religion, and you are right for not. But to claim we are all mentally ill, all 83% of us, is unreasonable and illogical.

Yeah CL... the word delusion is connotatively linked to mental disorder, but check the definition...

de·lu·sion
dəˈlo͞oZHən/
noun

1. 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 delusion of being watched"
   synonyms:
   misapprehension, misconception, misunderstanding, mistake, error, misinterpretation, misconstruction, misbelief; 
   fallacy, illusion, fantasy
   
   

misconception... misunderstanding... mistake... all synonyms. When separated from its typical association with mental disorder, one can see why an atheist would consider theism "delusional."

...It also says it is typically a symptom of mental illness. And that it is "maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument." By believing in God, you are not contradicting what is generally accepted as reality.

I think it is dishonest for you to say that people calling me delusional is the same as being told I am mistaken, have a misconception, or have a misunderstanding. I don't mind being told by people that they think I am mistaken. It is when I'm being told I'm delusional, particularly by people who themselves have a mental illness while I don't, that upsets me.