A few reasons that seem evident to me over the years:

1) Being uncomfortable not having answers to big questions

2) Hating the idea that nothing is ultimately in charge and looking after things

3) Needing to feel special

4) Fear of death

5) Unwillingness to accept morality is man made and subjective

These are all non-indoctrination reasons, but I'm sure people predisposed to these kind of emotional reasons are easier to indoctrinate. However, when they get them young enough everyone is vulnerable

Also, it's so much less work to grab hold of a bag of "complete" answers than it is to go learn stuff.

(June 29, 2015 at 4:59 pm)Spooky Wrote: Short of indoctrination and maintaining familial ties, why believe?  Assuming an person has no psychological or developmental disabilities, the lack of evidence, or masses of evidence to the contrary should be obvious.

What keeps an otherwise intelligent adult believing in the supernatural?

emotional needs.

There are two reasons to believe in God.

1. Fear

2. Insecurity

I would believe in God because I like having people watching me while I masturbate. Hey, God, pull up a chair and grab that bottle of lube over there!

(July 2, 2015 at 11:02 pm)bennyboy Wrote: I would believe in God because I like having people watching me while I masturbate.  Hey, God, pull up a chair and grab that bottle of lube over there!

So I'm not the only one to have had this thought...Hmm...