IIN to judge someone solely on their religious beliefs?

I don't think it is refusing to face reality. I am an atheist, but I am currently taking a writing intensive class on Judaism because I want to understand religion and faith better. I was like you in that I could not understand how someone could believe in all of these strange aspects and complexities of religion without proof. I didn't not like them, but I was confused by them.
I think people sometimes claim to know out of necessity and fear of the unknown. Its human nature to fear death and not existing, so people try to come up with a way to ease those fears through religion.
I think you just need to cut religious folks some slack and try to understand them. Research beliefs of religions and try to step into their shoes. Most people start learning their religions through family when they are very tiny. I always think of it like times I was taught things like countries, books, animals and maths I was taught as a small child. When I was being taught the cow goes moo like it was fact, some Christian child was being taught that Jesus saved you like it was fact.