When we are, death is not; when death is, we are not.
Some say people hold to religion because of its comforts. A superficial way of thinking given religion's moral demands and the fears it inspires. It was precisely such fears for which Epicurean materialism was prescribed as anodyne.
Materialism has its comforts too. Will you then say that people believe it because it is comforting?
Materialism has its comforts but it also renders human life meaningless. That goes on the debit side of the balance sheet.