Deluded. Deceived. Confused. Disoriented. Unable to see at the spiritual level and understand, with the latter two abilities being direct gifts of grace of the Holy Spirit. Yet most of humankind, in particular in developed nations, consider themselves enlightened to this day, both in the camp of the left and in the camp of the right, and attempt without fail to educate the rest. Coercion? What is that? Where is God?
Their hearts have been closed, their nous has been darkened, and this to such an extent that the delicate balance between faith and reason has long been lost. Reification of reason externally to the faith and reification of the self are the new processes ordering the day, with darkness being perceived as light and light being perceived as darkness. But why is this happening to its present extent? What has led to such a pitiable state of affairs in the souls of humankind?
The answer is simple:
Because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved, God is sending them a spirit of deception, so that they may believe the lie, that all who have not believed the truth, but have approved wrongdoing, may be condemned (2 Thes 2:10-12).