Is there another motivation for christian belief?

[Angrboda]

Fourth, the desire to affect societal and political change can easily enthuse radicalism. For instance, the mentality behind extremism in the Arab world is in some ways analogous to voting, because individuals who vote and turn to extremism do so despite the high opportunity cost and the relative improbability of success in affecting political change. Yet, intriguingly, individuals do vote because they want to have a say in impacting their political outcome. Extremists, likewise carry the deep desire to influence change and, at times, so feel this desire so profoundly that they are willing to die for it. Radical Islamists often engage in a rational calculus and respond to pressing geopolitical issues where young men can be seduced into adopting the role of local actors to influence outcomes.

5 Paths to Islamic Radicalization

It seems to me there is another factor that plays a role in motivating people to be Christian. That is the role of morality and virtue. Most of us have a desire to be good and virtuous. Supposedly, religion offers not just 'a path' to virtue, but the path to virtue. For people who are highly motivated by moral themes, or those who are sensitized to their own flaws, Christian belief seems to offer a method of gaining control over one's moral life. It offers practical steps toward a virtue filled life, even if the promise of that moral life is in some sense exaggerated. Regardless, it allows people to take charge of a very important facet of their lives, and that is a strong motivator. Who among us has not at one time or another been overwhelmed by feelings of regret and doubts about our worth? Christianity offers a framework in which such doubts can be managed by framing them with a theme of sin and redemption which offers the hope of escaping such angst.