The false dichotomy of rational and irrational thought is aggrevating. Point one, it's not the irrational that makes religions stupid. Point two, the more usual

The false dichotomy of rational and irrational thought is aggrevating. Point one, it's not the irrational that makes religions stupid. Point two, the more usual collocation is rational decision. Like, there are more and less rational ways to deal with problems. Religion is just one of them and it's often not much of a decision. If you believe you will live forever in heaven blowing yourself up might be an entirely rational decision. The premisse is irrational, and people would usually maintain a sense of ultimate uncertainty ... this fails catastrophically in case of fear. That's not irrational in face of better judgement. It's just not rational, so it's useless to bring up that word, unless to stress the western philosophical angle, which you have carefully avoided.