Why does god want to cut off women's hands?

[John V]

Indeed we don't know...
So why accept any of them at all?

Off the top of my head:

In general:
- the first cause argument
- the argument from design
- evolutionary considerations - i.e., even if none are true, they seem to have value to humans
- hope and comfort

Regarding Christianity:
- for the NT at least we have better information regarding the messengers. Absent an a priori rejection of god, the messengers seem sincere, sane, and lacking self-interest. That's not enough to necessitate belief, but it's more than many other religions can say.
- the Bible's take on mankind agrees with my observations of myself and others.