People who say they take comfort in the belief in an afterlife are essentially admitting that fear is a major motivator for religious belief; in this case, fear of death.

Fear of death is natural in all self-aware organisms; it’s part of our evolved instinct for self-preservation. However, when you look at it, atheism offers a superior alternative to the fantasies of religion and afterlife belief. There was a discussion about this very topic on a mailing list I belong to recently. A friend of mine made a good point. By confronting reality head-on and not hiding behind the dubious comfort of wishful thinking, atheists have the capacity to identify real problems and pursue real solutions. If the problem in question is “Death,” then solutions include living a healthy and responsible life, and supporting scientific research into life extension.