I agree that “authentic beliefs happen to us without our conscious attention.” That is why we have many scientists who greatly benefited mankind through their great inventions, yet who were not academics. They were not followers of the convention. No use putting on beliefs of others. For example, one who “slain well over 200,000 men” for his greed is believed to be “great” (Alexander The Great) by the world. Belief in God may or may not help because both good and evil people can be seen among theists and atheists alike.
If you want to be happy and feel good you must choose thoughts, speech, deeds, diet, association and pace that make you happy and feel good.