Insofar as anyone expects saints to perform the function of demigods and intervene causally with miracles on behalf of the person praying, yes, it is “profoundly weird” magical thinking.
Why do you ask a site full of atheists if they think religion is irrational?
Speaking of “profoundly weird” things, does the veneration of saints in Catholicism qualify? :-)
Insofar as anyone expects saints to perform the function of demigods and intervene causally with miracles on behalf of the person praying, yes, it is “profoundly weird” magical thinking.
Why do you ask a site full of atheists if they think religion is irrational?
“Irrational” and “weird” are quite different adjectives.