I wonder if the fact that human civilization has lasted and flourished for so long is just a stroke of luck then…

But the self-interest argument falls apart when you look at it from a cost/benefit standpoint.

I agree, and this is a much better way to define “self interest” too.

Yeah, I agree with your statement. Not in a degrading way though. I know people whose lives have been so difficult, agonizing and full of abuse. Religion is what got them through those times and gave them hope. I am an atheist too, a very radical one at that, but I can imagine these people would have similar reactions if their only source of spiritual comfort was aggressively denied.

So they do need serious psychological help, but not because they are stupid to react that way, if that was what you meant.