If the inner life of a human was simply pure intentionality, this would be a good story, but we are unfortunately concerned with things beyond "I want to do x" whether we like it or not. That is, you don't simply want to build a bridge in a vacuum, you want to build a bridge because you believe it will help you with crossing the river. You want to get to the other side of the river because you believe there will be treasure there, because indeed you found a treasure map and you believe it to be bona fide. You want treasure because you believe it will give you comfort and happiness.

Or whatever. I am just saying you can't help but believe, I am not saying there aren't necessarily good or bad beliefs, but I am saying that one belief or another doesn't make you "smarter."

Is not the idea of intelligence itself a kind of belief? Have we ever seen it in a microscope? How can you definitively answer, e.g. the Chalmer's zombie problem? The general issue of solipsism, of experience itself? Don't you believe that those who you love are full humans who hopefully love you back?

(Also I am sorry you keep feeling insulted, not sure what to do about that. Please know I fully implicate myself in all this as well.)

Religion worked for thousands of years to create society and a shared code of ethics and morals. To say otherwise is an uneducated understanding of human history. It may be outdated in many ways now but to say it doesn't work is not a take that gets you any closer to understanding how the world and people work, it just sounds edgy and spiteful.

Nobody should feel silly! These are good conversations to have.

Would it not be more correct to say that the opposite of irrationality is, well, rationality? This is important because rationality is something I assume we agree is a characteristic of humans. Humans can't help but be rational, which is why irrational behavior can be the exception that proves the rule. To say "being smart" is the opposite suddenly creates a a somewhat unscientific rift among human animals, doesn't it? But I do get why you want to say that for your argument, but you should be a little more nuanced in order to get one over on me. Not that I am particularly smart or anything, but just because I am listening to what you are saying.

But otherwise, I think I see what you are saying, but why is living a long life the goal for you? That is a somewhat novel argument in this context.