Originally Posted by crs82

I don't know. Religion, as many practice it, is as valuable to them in this life as it is in the afterlife. In general, religious people are happier, recover more quickly from illnesses (while under the care of a real doctor), usually have a larger sphere of friends and acquaintances (due to membership at a church, synagogue, mosque, etc.), and have a largely positive outlook on life. That kind of takes care of the "bad situation" you describe. And if, as you believe, there is no afterlife of any kind, what else is there for them to worry about anyway?