Question: Are faith and religion irrational? 

Dan Ariely: So I think it’s a very helpful belief.  So from that perspective I think it’s very useful.  Thinking about dying is very unpleasant.  It’s something that actually causes us not to take care of our savings and so on, so it’s very helpful.  I also think that our research shows how wonderful religious beliefs are for morality in society, and for people’s decisions to behave . . . to behave well.  So from many ways, I would say that religious beliefs are very helpful, are very positive, are very good ...individual and society.

Recorded on: Feb 19 2008