It is a responsible belief as it is based on empirical evidence and scores of repeatable, peer reviewed scientific research. We can see that the mind is an emergent property of the brain, when the brain is damaged so is the mind/consciousness.
Pascal's Wager is a canard we're all familiar with, if you are not aware of why this is faulty logic this may shed some light for you -
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager
Poisoning the Well won't work in this sub-forum, either. In every important area of life, you use empirical evidence to make decisions, why would spiritual ideas be exempt from this process? When you or a loved on is about to take medicine for a serious illness, you demand the evidence for the safety and effectiveness of the medication. If you mother were on trial for her life, you would demand evidence that she is guilty before her execution. I don't think hearsay from 'credible people' would satisfy you. We simply apply this same rigor to religious/spiritual/theistic ideas, as well...
Wow, more insulting Well Poisoning. Atheists suck and so do Theists, I'm glad you are here to finally open all our eyes to the truth. You are probably an atheist when it comes to Zeus and Wotan, and you are a skeptic when it comes to the existence of the Abrahamic god. Why should your brand of fairytale be considered over these others?
Why is this idea more credible than any other unsubstantiated view?
So they say...
You assume that he hasn't done as much study and research as you have regarding these topics. Most of the skeptics and atheists here have done much study of these spiritual ideas, and have even held them in their youth. It would be responsible for you to look at your own lack of knowledge and research concepts such as Burden of Proof, Logical Fallacies, and basic terms such as theist, deist, atheist, agnostic. If you want to be heard and taken seriously here, I'd advise you to stop with the arrogance and insults, and look for the inconsistencies and weaknesses of your own position and beliefs. At least become familiar with your opposition's stance before you speak lest you look foolish...