In your opinion what causes christians to believe in Jesus

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Many Christians assume they're saved, regardless of whether that assumption is theologically sound or not.  So I don't see the threat of hell as a counter-balance to the promise of heaven.

I'm not sure that's true. I think only Pentacostals are known to have a "once saved always saved" theology. In the rest of Christianity salvation is always conditional, and sometimes painfully so. In fact, I think it can lead many to depression when not careful. You can see it in a lot of Christian hymns and prayers, this sense of being unworthy, self-deprication, and gloom.

And that’s precisely why people believe in Jesus - belief in this mythic god-man offers them relief from their feelings of unworthiness, deprecation, and gloom. You can see it pointed out in scripture, Christian literature, Christian art, and so on.

To be fair, this is not unique to Christianity. Most religions prey on the unhappiness of their adherents.

Boru