Even the OP implies that there is some mental benefit to using hope as a coping mechanism. Even still, I would think most practitioners are doing it because the

Even the OP implies that there is some mental benefit to using hope as a coping mechanism. Even still, I would think most practitioners are doing it because they receive some sort of practical benefit now, in addition to the hope they hold in the afterlife. Most religious communities provide social/emotional/spiritual fulfillment for the parishioner in the present.