In his newest book the philosophy professor Stephen Asma talks about the function that religion have in our society, one of the functions mentions is the provision of comfort from the pain cause by the loss a of love one and the hardships of life.
But saying that religion provide comfort, although that can be true, fail to take in to account the other side of the problem. First of all, if the message of a religion is false, meaning that, there is no god or one of the dogmas of a religion is false, say that this religion provide comfort is the same that say that a lie provides comfort, a lie can indeed provides comfort, but what is the cost?
Who would willing accept to live base on a lie? Who would choose an illusion stead of the reality? For those who would make that choice, religion is certainly a good path to follow, but if you prefer truth stead of joy, you should think more carefully before become a believer.
Another problem with religion is the comcept of eternal joy and eternal suffer, think about how much you would suffer if you knew that someone you love is going to hell. If you believe in eternal punishment, every bit of joy and comfort that you can have when you think about some kind of paradise, can immediately be replace with the constant agony of the thought of eternal punishment. Everytime that I think about how nice would be if the christian paradise exist, I immediately cast that thought away and seek comfort in the idea that there is no hell.