Such a simple question.....

For those of you who do not know, my partner is an active agnostic. I mean that to say that he thinks about matters of philosophy and religion with some frequency and is honestly seeking Truth, but he withholds belief in any higher power without adequate support or rational basis for the existence of said higher power. As you can imagine, this leads to substantive and interesting discussions which can be highly disturbing to some folk.

He has put to me this question, which I wish to put to you as well.

Why?

Why do you believe? Why Theism? Why (general religion here)? Why (specific brand of faith here)?

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” - Gautama Siddharta, the Buddha

In a day or so, I will post my answer (if you've not divined it from earlier posts), but I would entreat you all to post your own reflections to his question.