What makes people irrational thinkers?

[Angrboda]

I don't really see how it's relevant.  I've had mystic experiences too, and never believed in gods.  It's not as if the one is a comment on the other.  We hear that, on the inarguable reality of these experiences, he can't discount this or that.....but.....I've had those experiences, equally inarguable, and still have no trouble discounting the same this's and that's.

I'd say quite a few people have had these experiences and simply said 'wow, that was a strange quirk of my mind' and continued on down the road.

My personal view is that it is likely there is a circuit (or analog) in our brains that determines that something coming through is 'important'. When it goes into overdrive, the something is 'very important' and carries a twinge of 'wow, that is amazing'. That can easily lead to 'religious experiences'.

This view is supported by the fact that religious experiences are more likely under conditions of stress or drug use (psychedelics can lead to such).