Why are so many people susceptable to religious thinking and religious ways?

I have always allowed to have an open mind and to listen to people and to take account of all sources of informatiion and to make up my own mind about things and I have come to the conclusion that rationality is king. The best foundation for life and decisions is rationality. Commitment to rationalitity leads to the best of all possible worlds. Rationality depends on letting the facts speak for themselves. But religious people don't do this. Religious people are selective believing what they want to believe. They are proud of their "free will". They are proud of their ability to turn their backs on rationality. Why does this divide exist? Rationalists who want to be grounded in reality and emotionalists who will believe anything as long as it feels good? Surely it's obvious that there is nothing supernatural in the universe? Why will emotionalists believe anything even in blatant contradiction to science? How can we get emotionalists to be more rational?