It's a scary world out there, with out a "big daddy" to watch out for us most people feel lost and scared to death, I think that fear is more powerfull than reason. Now imagine this, the most powerfull being ever, a GOD! and this god created me and cares so much for me! isn't this awsome? No more fear or uncertainty...
When we were kids, our parents told us that santa claus was real and that if we didn't misbehave he would bring us presents/gifts every Christmas! So, for as long as religious people continue to recieve their "presents" they think that the "facts" fit the theory! and if one year they don't recieve any presents.... well, they obviously misbehaved that year and they didn't deserve any presents!
the most terrifying prospect: We are alone, on a small planet, in a vast universe, and no one is coming to save us.
I have another mental tool in place for that. It's a trick of logic stolen from Buddhism: "This universe may be pointless, but being part of the universe, I am the universe, and look at how absurd I am, and how many silly manifestations I have. I'm throwing things at myself in order to scare and amuse myself; in order to trick myself into thinking that any of this really matters. I'm going to silence this silly meat lump that I call my brain, and just take it all in. The past and the future don't exist. There is only the now. Who cares? Have a blast!"
If you're not in the habit of thinking like that, it probably sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, but I find that it helps me feel all right.
Good stuff
You're hitting the nail on its head there.