Why that God or gods?

[Edwardo Piet]

To the theists here, why do you believe in your particular God or gods? Please elaborate.
(Atheists wanting to play Devil's advocate are certainly welcome I'm not experienced at that myself yet.)

[lukec]

From an atheist point of view, I'd have to say that the for the vast majority it has only to do with where you were born and how you were raised. Although, now that i think about it, I'd like to know the statistics for conversions to other religions?

[CoxRox]

Although I was exposed to Christianity from a young age, I questioned it all in my teens. I looked at other religions and was drawn back to Christianity as it has the 'ring of truth' about it compared to other religions. Maybe I was predisposed to see it as truth because of my earlier exposure. Who knows! I still think it appeals more than other religions, or rather Jesus' teachings have much appeal to me.

[LukeMC]

Although I was exposed to Christianity from a young age, I questioned it all in my teens. I looked at other religions and was drawn back to Christianity as it has the 'ring of truth' about it compared to other religions. Maybe I was predisposed to see it as truth because of my earlier exposure. Who knows! I still think it appeals more than other religions, or rather Jesus' teachings have much appeal to me.

Jesus said a few nice things. Even some of us atheists live by some of the things Jesus said. Yet we don't subscribe to the entire religion behind it. No, no, no

[Edwardo Piet]

Although I was exposed to Christianity from a young age, I questioned it all in my teens. I looked at other religions and was drawn back to Christianity as it has the 'ring of truth' about it compared to other religions. Maybe I was predisposed to see it as truth because of my earlier exposure. Who knows! I still think it appeals more than other religions, or rather Jesus' teachings have much appeal to me.

So if I have understood you correctly you believe in Christianity because it appeals to you? Of course if it appeals that doesn't make it true.

[Darwinian]

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.

Carl Sagan

[Baird]

Well, I used to be in a catholic school and I used to believe in God when I was a little kid (8-12 years), I used to believe in God, because they had told me God was responsible for all the good in the world and he would send you to hell if you woulldn't obey him...
They literally scared me into Christianity.
The only reason I believed in god during those four years, was fear.
Fear of going to hell and burning for all eternity, they still use that same method in my old school.
Frighten the kids into believing in God seems to work quite well.

[CoxRox]

I'm sure that the accounts of Mohammed are as appealing to muslims, so I know appeal is not as important as the truth. It's not until you really explore religious beliefs that you realise they are propped up by not much more than sentiment and wishful thinking- or so it now seems....

[puglover]

i have been brought up by an agnostic mother atheist father.
went to a lutheran school for years 7-12(my choice of school)
i got a bit sucked in/brainwashed/manipulated.. in and out towards the end of year 7..
i think i was a bit weak emotionally because of the whole new school thing and going to chapel every morning at school..
towards the middle/end of year 8 i started telling people that i had chosen to go to hell lol.. so then i could so lead an easy life now and live by my own rules.
i think by middle of year 9 i went to being an agnostic.. which eventually turned to atheist.
so yep that is why i believed in god for a short moment of my life.

[Meatball]

I think a lot of "casually religious" people take the position that all religions are just different interpretations and different ways of honouring the same creator based on geological location. It's sorta like 'God' is a constant, but religions are regional, like langauges.

I don't buy that though.