Religion, Why do you believe what you believe? Options

[Spectatrix]

Some discussion about Christianity has popped up in a few threads lately, so I thought I'd start this one. This is NOT a thread for bashing another person's beliefs.

Basically, I'm curious as to what people believe in terms of religion/spirituality and why. Looking at religions from an outside perspective, it seems to me that most would seem inspiring in some ways, but not necessarily true. What has led you to believe that your religion is true and that the stories (in the Bible, Koran, Torah, Baghavad Gita, etc. etc.) aren't just inspirational fiction?

What have you experienced or what research have you done that has convinced you one way or the other?

[blaarg]

Atheist

Was indoctrinated by my parents since I was born to go to church, love god, Jesus died for me, etc... Came to college and made the realization that everything in my life makes some sort of logical sense except this concept of faith which seems to be the say-all-end-all reason for god's existence. Then I realized that the only real reason why I believed in god was because I would want something and praying was an avenue, albeit not a reliable one, to getting it and also I wanted reassurance for life after death.

When I came to grips that if I want something and I tried hard enough I can get it without any divine entity coupled with the acceptance that death isn't that big of a deal (after all we were sort-of dead before we were born for a long ass time) then I became an atheist.