John P.

I don't think about whether it is rational or not.
That is not important to me.
I will say that a lot of things that many Atheists say do not seem rational to me. You don't have to go further than this thread to see a lot of those things.

Certainly the benefit I gain is rational enough and that benefit is diminished by questioning when praying would be of benefit.   

I think that in life, and in this thread, Atheists and Theists talk across each other asking those they are talking with at the time to explain and excuse statements from the fringes.

I tell you what. I won't ask you to defend Dawkins point of view if you don't ask me to defend William Jennings Bryant's or Pat Robertson's.