I like to distinguish between faith and belief. Faith is a trusting stance. It begins with emotion — the awe and wonder you mention that science and religion have in common as starting points, among other things. In this respect, atheism is also based on faith.

Belief is first the intellection of faith, at first imbibed with mother's milk, and so a product of one's culture. Second, belief is appropriated, and we all do it. So materialist atheism (which is how I interpret your term "rationalism") has as much faith and belief as any other religious stance.

Evidence that demands a verdict is for courtrooms, not for human hearts.