An honest answer to this question is ...there are many reasons.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf ...tells a story of how the adults were led to believe there was danger when there wasn't, then they believed there was no danger when there was.

Why are people led to believe things??

How about Adam & Eve??

Eve was not only persuaded to consider the thing which she believed to be true, was in fact, not true (though it really was); but she was also led to believe some other important truth was being withheld from her ...and we can see how she viewed that as a very unloving motive.  And that is precisely the way it was intended for her to perceived it.

And whether one feels tricked, duped, or deceived ...those are very strong feelings that often emote rather immediate responses.  Yet, how much more intense are those emotions when she finds out the friendly advice was beyond mere trickery. 

Not an acquaintance, not even much of an introduction ...can't really be called treachery or betrayal, as no trust had even been established.

So tragic how a simple idea, before it can even entrench itself, can quickly spark doubt and mistrust. 

A very important point to be made ...is that we must realize, that particular event was not a one-time strategy.

I don't know science as well as most people ---physics, biology, chemistry etc. ...but I also have not had people who claim to know those things, adequately explain to me what they believe brought about what we now see here on earth.

This earth is our home, our life ...

How did we get our home, and how did life begin here??

Perhaps you have heard of some of the stories:

• Ancient Egypt has a heliopolis version of where in the beginning only chaotic water existed, called Nun.
  
  
• The Mayan culture presented a Maker and a Feathered Spirit who together created out of thoughts. At first man was made out of clay, but he crumpled apart. Then he was made out of wood, but he was empty-headed.  So, they made man out of corn. (I felt amused with their reasoning, and wanted to add that the man made from corn was corny, but they said he was empathetic and intelligent.)
  
  
• The Polynesian story of 'Rangi and Papa' sounded endearing, stating that the world emerged from a shell ...and when the shell opened, light came inside. Rangi was the top of the shell lifting up the sky, and Papa was the earth, and they love each other.
  
  
• Another story depicts the Raven as the most powerful. (Though not the most moral and honest ...as the Raven stole the sun, moon, and stars from a great chief's daughter.)
  
  
• A Hindu story tells of a great 'being', Purusha, who was sacrificed and made into butter, which then everything else is made of. (Is that where we get the saying, 'buttering people up'?)
  
  
• A Norse story tells of Ragnarok.  (I won't say anything more, as you may not have seen the movie, and I don't want to join the creation story by creating spoilers.)
  
  
• A Japanese story talks of a mixture of all the elements, creating one germ of life.  (Since the recent pandemic most people don't want to hear about germs, so I won't go any further.)
  
  
• Enuma Elis is another chaotic water story, where Marduk fires an arrow, splitting a water 'being' in two, creating the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
  
  
• The Jains believe something quite like one of the laws of thermodynamics ...in that they posit that nothing in this world is ever created or destroyed.
  
  
• In West Africa, the story is of a 'being' who put a part of himself in a seed, but the seed blew up, and become two seeds. (not really too seedy, but we will move on.)
  
  
• We can be thankful for the Navajo people, as their language was one we used in World War II, and we could communicate because the code was never figured out.  Maybe we can figure out how 4 seas were ruled by Big Water, Blue Heron, the Frog, and White Thunder.  Of course there was also Great Coyote who knew all the secrets of water and sky; and another coyote, First Angry, who did not bring good.
  
  
• The Iroquois story tells of an island floating in the sky, where the Sky People lived. There was no death, no sadness, and people lived quietly happy (sounds like Heaven). But, one Sky Women became pregnant, expecting twins.  For some reason her husband was not happy about this, and in a fit of rage, he tore up a huge tree in the middle of the floating island, making a big hole (I guess it was no longer happy for them, and not like Heaven). The Sky Woman fell through the hole (husband pushed her, and though he will deny it, this is the story), and as she fell through the sky, birds caught her.  Her two sons were Sapling and Flint (Sapling was not a sap, he was good. Flint reminds me of 'First Angry', from the other story, but he'd be more like 'second angry', as the Sky Woman's husband was arguably first.) And the continent on which they lived, is mud on an enormous turtle's back, floating in the sea.
  
  
• Then there's the 'egg' story.  (I don't know who hatched that story, but it was way before 'Mork from Ork'.)
  
  And there are many more stories.  
  
  Like I mentioned, this is our home, our life ...
  
  And we live during a time where we may not even believe what we hear on the news tonight. But, more accurately, we could say we do believe in some things ...and it makes us feel good that we know something.  Yet, there is a great divide in what we believe either morally, socially, politically, or realistically.
  
  But, I'm not going to get into all of that.
  
  I've already provided several examples of 'creation' stories.  And I know we don't all agree in that area. But, though we may have differences, in relation to what is true, a belief in God is a beginning to what I feel is of utmost importance.
  
  And of course, we know there is a challenge lurking around every corner ...and I've heard people say that truth is whatever one believes to be true, that making it true for them.  As difficult as it is to have those existential conversations ---hearing the claim of 'what is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me' ---it is still important to make some attempt at clarifying definitions.
  
  Who is God??
  
  How do we find out about who God is?? 
  
  I could address those who brazenly refute God's existence, as they boldly state how we are led to believe in God, our faith being just a coping mechanism, and a crutch for weak-minded people.  But, I wholeheartedly feel it is more important what we believe ...than what others believe about us. Unless the 'other' ...is God.  And it is important what we believe about Him.
  
  Most of the time I would think it best to reason this out from the beginning, and then go through everything which points to, and eventually brings us right to Jesus. But, I'm going to start with Jesus.
  
  Yes, I believe Jesus was there in the beginning, but I am referring to when He discipled the apostles and others ...what we read about in Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, inclusive of His resurrection.  
  
  So, though many do 'not' believe it to be true, there is often a very general consensus with the belief that Jesus walked the earth approximately 2000 years ago.
  
  The crucifixion of Jesus shows us the immense, unmatched, and immeasurable love God has for us. His desire for us is to embrace that love ...not for His benefit, but for our own. And He wants His love to live in us in a way that only love can ...in us, yet unable to be contained in us, as we also want others to know of this love, encouraging them to likewise share the source of that love with others they may come in contact with.
  
  Yes, that is the powerful force of His love.  Yet, we need to also recognize the existence of deceptive forces, steering as many people as possible away from that truth.
  
  The Gospels of Matthew 12:29, and Mark 3:27 both present this statement which Jesus said in answer to the Pharisees, "How can a strong man's house be entered and plundered, unless first one binds the strong man?"
  
  Who is the strong man??
  
  God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent.
  
  God is everywhere ...God is all-knowing ...no one is stronger than God.
  
  Everywhere in the Bible we read about God, so that we can know Him ...and that knowledge of Him is most powerful, overcoming our sin, and granting us the highest of privileges, through His love and mercy.
  
  First Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, within you?"
  
  The Holy Spirit does not lead us away from the Bible ...no, He leads us to the Word, and leads us in understanding the Word.  The Word of God is what we read ...a revelation of His love.
  
  Some people say we must first bind all the deception, cast away all the strongholds ...others say we merely put our trust in the strength of God, following the wisdom of Proverbs 18:10, running to our strong tower where we can be safe. 
  
  I find my strength in who He is, which is revealed in the Bible. Another way to plunder the house which His Word lives within, is to attack our faith ---to tie it up within our mind ---with reinforced twisted cords of doubt, deception, and delusion.
  
  Second Thessalonians 2:10-11, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness within them who perish,; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie ..."
  
  But, it is through Jesus whereby everyone is saved ...and He is the truth. So, where is the delusion??  We only need to believe in, and accept Jesus ---if anyone makes salvation to be something else, or something more, or something less ---isn't that already a wrong that has been penetrating our society and churches?? 
  
  Doesn't the very next verse in Second Thessalonians say, " ...who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."???
  
  So, salvation through Jesus is the truth ...and should not be presented any other way which could possibly take away from that truth.
  
                                          ***************************
  
  I believe that was very important to say ...and nothing should take away from the importance of that.
  
  That being said, the question could be asked why the Bible is such a thick book, with so many pages??
  
  Jesus loves us ...Jesus wants us to be with Him in Heaven ...Jesus died for our sins, so we can be with Him in Heaven, because He forgives us for acting like we sometimes don't choose Him to be with us.
  
  There we have it ...something like that, but of course it would be worded better coming from God.  But, it's simple ...and overall easy to read with a Twitter-length presentation.
  
  So, why is the Bible so long ...who reads something that long anyway??
  
  Well, I did ...and though that doesn't make me so special because I read it, it made me feel special 'by' understanding what I read.
  
  Of course, we realize that one person can be offended by the same statement another could feel loved by.  If you are a person who is not satisfied with your life ...you can be upset with God, or you can look that much more forward to the promises of the afterlife (Heaven).  Yet, if you are upset with God, you likely may not trust His promises either.
  
  I've written four books (not published, but written ...and I had the last one printed, so I guess it can be purchased).  I gave a copy to my parents, and since I am their son, Dad & Mom read all four books.  I didn't get rave reviews from them, but they are interested enough in their son (and supportive of me) that they read all four.
  
  Well, I consider myself a child of God (son of God, as believers are described in the New Testament), and as His child, I am interested in what He has to say about Himself, and His relationship with us humans. Yes, the Bible is very long, but it is thorough ...and I am thankful for the quite extensive picture of who God is, what He has done, what He will do, and the 'why' of it all.
  
  So, when I listed a brief description near the beginning of this blog, of many of the 'creation' stories, none of the ones I summarized or listed are in the Bible.  Why is that??
  
  Well, it would seem to me to be a bit absurd for there to be a story in the Bible that is not God's truth. Why would God not tell us the truth??
  
  I've heard some rather lame answers to that very question, such as: "God didn't give us the truth because He felt we couldn't handle the truth."
  
  That sounds like something the serpent would say ...yet, it would have to be a different deception than what was presented to Eve.  She was told something was being withheld from her, and in contrast, I certainly would not complain of what was being withheld from me ---as I have a very long collection of Old Testament Books (called the Bible), and Jesus discipling people before and after His crucifixion, with those followers of Jesus witnessing and also writing about Him ---yes, it would be quite absurd to think something was being withheld from me.
  
  I said we are going to start with Jesus. And the apostle John writes something very interesting. He quotes Jesus as saying, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me.  But, if you believe not his writings, how are you going to believe what I say?"  (John 5:46-47)
  
  So many people say that the Creation account in the Bible is mere poetry, or it is a myth ...and some have often have said that many stories (as I listed some of them previously), also have their accounts, and one common claims is, that the Epic of Gilgamesh is older than the Bible account, and the Bible copied from it. 
  
  (This is just another careless claim, among many others as far as I see it, as the 'Epic' is surprisingly said to be written around the time we can see the Bible dates the Tower of Babel ...& Noah, and at least one of his sons, Shem, lived several hundred years after the Flood.  So, to be clear, that makes actual eye witnesses to the Flood, as they were on the Ark. That certainly was a story to tell, and no doubt they did ...others still telling it after they were separated after the Tower of Babel.  So, no, it is not the Bible copying ...the people who say this don't believe in a worldwide Flood, and they claim a myth copied a myth ...but, they are mything the truth.) 
  
  If you don't want to myth something, or I mean, miss something, then perhaps these short verses may help:  Titus 1:13-14; Mark 7:8-9; and Cololssians 2:8 ...
  
  The other claim ...that the Creation story is poetry.  I will speak more to that in my very next sentence , but I have never seen poetry with a genealogy like is written in Genesis, linked together by following Chapters 5 & 11.
  
  But, back to John quoting Jesus speaking about Moses. It has been often said that Moses didn't even exist ...and he is a myth, along with his supposed writings.  Yet, the Gospel of John clearly shows the words of Jesus in reference not only to Moses, but to his writings.
  
  If one actually claims that, how is that verse in John explained??   (John 5:46-47)
  
  Well, the answer I heard was that John didn't actually write the Gospel of John, and that writing is corrupted.
  
  So, now we have to eliminate John as an actual source?? The Gospel of John is not reliable??  Does that also include 1st, 2nd, & 3rd John ...and Revelation too??
  
  So, we are to believe that the writings of Moses aren't real, and neither are the writings of John, who writes that Jesus wrote of Moses??
  
  But wait ...wasn't John considered the beloved disciple, whom Jesus loved??
  
  But, it is then said that it was just John who said that, and John is just self-inflating his own image ...as only in the Gospel of John do we read of Jesus during His crucifixion asking John to take care of Mary, and at least six times times specifically referring to himself in that endearing 'beloved' way.  Also in that writing, after Jesus is resurrected, just before He returns to the Father, John is being viewed by Peter as being special ...as Peter questions Jesus about John's favored position.
  
  But wait ...
  
  It is not only the Gospel of John which shows a favored position for that beloved apostle.  It also shows how favored Peter is also. The Gospel of Matthew 26:36-46, tells of when Jesus went to pray at Gethsemane ...and Peter, James, and John were with Him.
  
  Again ...
  
  In the Gospel of Mark 5:37; Jesus takes 'only' Peter, James, and John with Him to the house of the ruler of the synagogue whose 12-year-old daughter is reported to have died. Jesus tells her to rise and walk ...and we know she does, at that very moment He speaks it.
  
  Again ...
  
  In the Gospel of Luke 9:28; Peter, James, and John join Jesus as He goes to the mountain to pray ...and 'who' suddenly appears, talking with Jesus about His soon betrayal and crucifixion??
  
  Who indeed??
  
  Moses and Elijah join with Jesus in conversation. Once again, the mention of a person many say didn't exist, is clearly there ...
  
  And it is reported by Luke, not John ...
  
  So, for those who say the Gospel of John is corrupted ...does Luke also now have to join the ranks of corrupted documents??
  
  If we go this route, claiming the Book of Genesis is myth ...Moses didn't exist, and didn't write Genesis ...then saying John is not a reliable source; and Luke can't be void of corruption either, as he also not only mentions Moses, but has him standing with Jesus ---then how much of what we believe is dissolved, relegating Jesus to even less than a good soldier who fights for what he believes in??  Does that place Jesus with Gandhi ...another clever tactician of non-violence, one promoting 'passive resistance' (a term Gandhi didn't like)??
  
  Do we view Jesus as an idealist, who stands for the well-being of all, while allowing each to save their own dignity ...the Son celebrating things we've seen the Father did not at all find pleasing to Him??
  
  Would Jesus provide the framework of a society to accept all ideas as being equal and acceptable?? 
  
  And can we just remedy the corrupted image of Him forced upon us by mere men who put their own words into a collection of Books, called the Bible, to lure us to come under their control with their man-made manipulative documents ---yes, can we rid ourselves of thousands of years of oppressive religious control by removing all those corrupted Books, and simply keep the list of beatitudes?? 
  
  And do we see ourselves joining together in a big circle, and singing, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands ..."???
  
  It makes it very difficult to realize at all who God really is ...if the very Word that God has given us by which we are to know Him, is discounted as not His Word, but man's word, with no claim of any reliability of truth to any degree.
  
  So, we have what I believe to be God's Word to us ...and I honestly believe Jesus attested to the 'Old', and His disciples reported to us the 'New', including what Jesus said and what He did.
  
  And all of this conflict appears to be motivated by those who believe in, and want to support either evolution, or some scientific explanation of how we came to be ...as long as it doesn't involve us being 'created' as humans on the sixth literal 24-hour day.
  
  And a common accusation is that anyone who promotes a literal translation of Genesis, is responsible for and guilty of turning people against God. Not that anyone who would make such a ridiculous statement would care, but would they admit the school system has an overwhelming influence ...so much so, that some communities have even tried to get the courts to rule with a little bit of equity, and allow 'creation' to be taught as a possible alternative of how humankind came about. 
  
  Though I know how that goes ...because the school authorities, whoever they are, would say that they couldn't favor one 'creation' story of one religion.
  
  There are those who don't believe God exists ...yes, those explanations are solely scientific, as they cannot imagine any explanation involving God. Yet, those who do believe in God to some degree ...yes, many of them say God used science &/or evolution.  Yet, those same people tend to avoid the conversation about angels ...as that would require de-evolution beyond any believable measure.
  
  Again, I cannot imagine God would choose to tell us a 'creation' story that isn't true.  The word 'truth' is mentioned over 200 times in the Bible. Why would 'truth' be stressed as being important if God is not concerned with truth??
  
  What God has given us ...that I believe.
  
  I don't know all truth, and I don't understand all of His Word, but God knows truth ---and I believe that is what He wants for us ---His truth.
  
  Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life ..."    
  (John 14:6)
  
  Any story can claim the possibility of being true, but I do 'not' believe it is true if it is in conflict with the Bible.  I know that many people believe their views are not in conflict with the Bible, though I may disagree with them ...but, that's okay, at least we can have a conversation about it.
  
  I don't believe the Bible is true because Mommy took little Stevie to church, and I was told it was true. I am thankful for Mom, her faith and devotion ...and her love for us 6 kids (as well as Dad's love for us). There was never a time I doubted their love, and I'm sure they never doubted mine either. But, there were certain things told about the Bible that I doubted, and that just seemed to enter my head, as does most teenagers. And of course, I was attending public school ...then went to Michigan State University, hardly a Christian university or curriculum.
  
  So, why do I believe the Bible??
  
  For one ...I read it, and I don't just read it, I feel the Holy Spirit guiding me with understanding through difficult parts. And yes, I have seen how people have many different views and many different outcomes from what they say are the results of the Holy Spirit. Some of these reports actually are even a bit disturbing to me, yet it does not take away from how thankful I am for the guidance I've been given. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being One ---means there is an agreement, and I don't seek to contradict the Bible ---which is my understanding of truth.  
  
  Speaking of truth, I wrote a story that is 'not' true, but is also 'not' in conflict with the Bible ...as I wrote it as a fictional piece.  It's called, 'The Essence ...'
  
  The link to my story is:   The Essence ...
  
                                         (notmeanttobeaccuratejusttoreflectupon.blogspot.com)
  
  'The Essence' is less than 75 pages long, and is the beginning of a much longer book, the fourth in a series of four, entitled, 'The Evolution of Confusion'.   
  
  What is another reason I believe in the Bible??
  
  I didn't get involved in relationships in High School (yes, I'm speaking of girls). As I looked at my situation at that time ...it would be hard to get serious, and then go off to college.  I guess I had the same viewpoint in college, figuring it would be difficult to get serious, then have to go who knows where for whatever job I would get. 
  
  When I got a job with the State of Michigan, after college, then I felt I was ready.  Yet, it didn't quite work out that way.  Each relationship that I began, didn't seem right ...yet, I attempted to be sensitive with having a mutual understanding about that (the short endurance of it).  
  
  Then I felt I found what I was looking for ...yet, shortly after we met, her parents got divorced.  I worked in the field of mental health, and I knew what impact that could have upon a family, but I had not experienced it myself.  I felt that those who have it the roughest, need the most understanding and support ...so I tried to be a friend through it all.  That's what I believe God's love is all about.  What I didn't realize was that it was not a relationship with this girl that was developing, but a deeper and more understanding relationship with God.
  
  After quite a few years of understanding and support which I tried to give, I realized there was no growth in the relationship with my friend ...and I decided to start a different kind of family.  My Dad's dad & mom had six kids, and Dad & Mom had six of us, so I decided to have six Compassion International kids. They too were mostly from broken homes, and they did not have much help outside the often very inadequate family setting they had within their corner of the world.
  
  I sponsored one young man from Mexico, and he was an exemplary young man ...soon dropping out of the program because he felt many others had it worse off than him, and someone else could use the support instead of him.  I would have still insisted he stay with the program, but it was not my choice ...and I have great admiration for him & his family, and hope they have done well.
  
  So then, my six were from Columbia, Honduras, Haiti,  Africa (Zaire ...now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), India, and Indonesia ...three boys and three girls.  I was sent pictures ...and I don't recall that any of them were smiling. 
  
  I had no clue what hardship they had gone through, or how they were coping with it. Through the organization's translators, we exchanged letters ...and I would write them monthly.  One didn't seem to have a very positive image of herself ...and it reflected in the letters.  I kept telling her how special she is, and also asked her to smile. After all these years, we were able to connect on Facebook, and she has a wonderful smile ...and is a wonderful young woman. She calls me 'Papa', and my wife 'Mama' ...and our children, she also considers her siblings.
  
  Yes, I did eventually marry ...and I certainly didn't want to neglect to mention what a wonderful woman she is. Growing together in God's love and raising our five children has been a blessing.  I guess God had it so I didn't marry young because I am a slow learner, and He wanted me to get it right. Of course, I didn't get everything right, but she was the right person for me ...and has given me the best years of my life.
  
  God knows we are broken too ...in so many ways, and He wants us to know He loves us. God wants us to realize we are special ...and He wants us to smile. 
  
  God wants us to know we are loved.  And I believe He would somehow communicate this to us.  The Compassion International children would not have known that I cared, if I had just sent monthly support, but did not write any letters. (Perhaps if any of them knew what taxes are, they may have felt they were just a tax deduction.)  I don't know what they would have felt ...but, I wanted to make sure they knew how I felt, and in time hopefully they'd realize how deeply loved they are.
  
  I believe in God ...and I believe love exists. I also believe there are places where love is lacking.  But, I wholeheartedly believe God would communicate His love ...and since I believe that, then I firmly believe it's there someplace, in that precise way He chose to communicate it to us. My task was just to be able to recognize it. 
  
  Reading the Bible, I recognized that I was reading that precise message God has for us.  How can a great God be anything less than what we read of in the Bible ...of His tremendous love!!
  
                                                                ********************************************
  
  I should have closed here ...but I just inserted that part, so this last part was already here.
  
  I guess this last part isn't much more than the ending credits in a book anyway, which few people pay attention to ...so be as it may, this last section is still here. (Though I doubt many of you are still here ...but God bless you, and I wish you well.)
  
  
  I'm certainly not depriving myself of food (it could be said, I am more than well-fed), but if I was to depend upon my writing to survive, I'd likely be a starving author.  On the other hand, as far as 'food for thought' goes, there is no lack that I am providing in that regard, though you may not like what I bring to the table.  But, it is what it is ...and here it is. 
  
  (Stephen Meiner) ...the links to the full tetralogy are as follows:
  
  So Loved ... 
  (sometimesanovelidea.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post_71.html)
  
  The Curious Whether and How   
  (https://sometimesanovelidea.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post_35.html)
  
  Do the Birds in the Wilderness, Not Heard, Stop Singing Their Songs?
  (sometimesanovelidea.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post_12.html)
  
  The Evolution of Confusion
  (manypeoplehaveapenname.blogspot.com) through page 265
  (whenwelastleftyou.blogspot.com)   through page 285
  (whenwelastleftyou.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2019-06-09T14:59:00-07:00&max-results=7) ...through page 315
  (whenwelastleftyou.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2019-06-09T01:07:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=4&by-date=false) ...five pages to 320
  (sometimesanovelidea.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post.html)  ...320 to page 417-443 & thru to 558
  (manypeoplehaveapenname.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-05-26T18:32:00-07:00&max-results=7) ...to page 599
  (manypeoplehaveapenname.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-05-22T19:21:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=1&by-date=false) ...ending.
  
  
  
  Yet, while I'm at it, I might as well add this one:
  
  (thispartisnotfunyetseemsnecessary.blogspot.com) ...with 'older posts' connecting 13 somewhat haphazard, semi-organized categories of blogs. 
  
  (docs.google.com/document/d/1nyk80wU8amMSTNO_IPACaJmbGWSrT9qGrmpt-8DdRlM/edit#) ...random thoughts & exchanges
  
  And I guess I'm doing this mostly for myself, so I have one area where near everything can be accessed. I've heard nothing ever disappears from the internet, while I've also heard that once deleted, they do disappear ...yet again, many times it has been said 'hackers' can recover things we thought were forever gone.  And in that case, if you are a 'hacker' & you find this ---if you don't believe in God, I hope you hack out your disbelief or unbelief ---and if I've somehow helped, you're welcome.