I believe and there are many reasons I believe. One of these reasons is probably because my mother taught me - my father was an athiest.
So, indoctrination. And if your mother had been a Muslim, you would likely have followed that faith and been just as convinced it was the One True Path.
Another reason probably is because I do wish to go to heaven and do not wish to go to Hell.
If you were God, how impressed would you be at someone using this rationale?
I also like the notion that life has a purpose and that it is not randomly meaningless.
I think my life has purpose. I know most people here feel that way as well. The randomness of our existence doesn't negate its meaning for us and for those around us.
I like the company of believers.
I'm sure it is much easier to cling to a delusion when surrounded by others who share it.
I like the consistency and framework of Christianity.
Yes, a consistent framework is a very good thing. I can think of a number of other choices which would be just as good. Or better.
I also believe because I choose to believe. I also believe because I have no choice.
Which is it? I don't believe because I cannot simply "choose" to do so and have it be true. I have no choice but NOT to believe, because it simply doesn't add up. Would an act of false belief impress in omnipotent god?
I also believe because there are so many contradictions.
Whaaaaat? How does that even make sense?
I also believe because believers in general are not arrogant in life (although some are arrogant in what they believe).
People are of all sorts of personalities, believers or not. Atheists are quite often some of the nicest people you could meet.
I believe because the Holy Spirit persuaded me to believe without words and yet with the WORD.
In other words, after hanging around with believers and getting thoroughly marinated in the woo, it started to just feel right. No surprise. It's a very normal phenomenon.
(ps...I see a bunch of replies since I started writing this, since it takes me so long to do the whole "breaking up the quotes" thing. So I'm just going ahead and posting it anyway, even though someone else has doubtless done a better job with all these points by now)
(pps..."normal phenomenon?" Geez, that was a bit of an oxymoron, wasn't it? Ah, well. Sorry)