As an adult, after learning of otter ideas, what kept you in the Christian faith? Was there a period of questioning, search, doubts?
Nothing else made sense to me to be honest. The gospel promised eternal life through faith (trust.belief) in what Jesus did. I had learned, as a child, Bible verses that were promises of God. And, I knew that sometimes I was disobedient,I just could not help it. But, I believed those promises that God would forgive me.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
I saw my disobedience as sin and I believed the word that Jesus loved me enough to fix me and make me right if I asked for forgiveness (repented). I believed, as a child, that Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for my sin. And I believed God raised Him from the dead. The promise was
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
As a child I learned the promises. As an adult they made too much sense to me. No other belief made more sense. I learned to trust and obey. I still mess up, but I still ask for forgiveness in prayer when I do.