Faith vs fear of death

Since I’m not religious anymore, I often wonder why religious people who believe in a wonderful after-life are still afraid of dying when their faith tells them that upon passing, everything will be much easier, better and as an extra bonus, will last forever. 

Example in point, are faithfuls in Rome looking distraught as Pope Francis is nearing the end of his earthly life. Everyone instead should be excited to see him ready to depart for a wonderful new and exciting destination, hence the glaring contradiction. My observation highlights this tension between spiritual belief and emotional experience.

I have done some research and there are still some reasons why religious people might fear death, even with a strong belief in some form of afterlife, still hampered by an overwhelming amount of doubt that negatively cancels out their certainty. Of course, even with a strong faith, an afterlife remains largely uncertain. 

Beliefs sure help but they can't eliminate the doubts, anxiety and fear of that black hole that death represents. At death, we know what we’re losing, but religious faith is never strong enough to turn things around. In fact, in most cases faith plays second fiddle to our instinctual survival drive and our emotional bonds to loved ones, family, and friends even if there's a belief in a future reunion. 

For all these many doubters, even with a belief in the afterlife can’t compete with the value and importance of one’s current life. Did I even mention a negative divine judgment after death? No, because I take it as transactional blackmail and a contradiction of what a good god should be. 

In conclusion, while religious beliefs can provide a tiny bit of comfort and hope for those who grieve the departed, they fail to eliminate the fundamental human fear of the unknown and the loss of the familiar.