1) Is religious belief the only effective solution for people in the example situations? Are there any better solutions? 2) This entire line of reasoning is predicated on the idea that belief is a choice.

1) There are other more effective solutions. The real solution is to fix the actual problem itself. 2) Well I more meant people that come to believe, maybe because of their lack of critical thinking skills, maybe because of their low mental state, maybe because of their search for comfort only, or maybe because of something else, and that they use their believe as a coping mechanism

Look, I don't believe it's a good solution, and I'd have no religion in this world, and more critically thinking people. The thing is, you could fix the problems and still use it as a coping technique. I'm just wondering in how far it's an effective coping technique, since yea, they might be working on their problems, but they still might have to cope with a lot in the short future. I don't think it's NEEDED, and I'm not saying it's the best and the only method, but it can be comforting to them.

Or is that an idiotic thought?