Since the primitive times, Man has tried to cheat on death. The most important attempt is religion. As I mention elsewhere , religion is an attempt to explain what is incomprehensible to Man. By doing so, religion gives hope and confidence. But isn't hope nothing more than a fear to face reality, an attempt to create a much more pleasant reality so that we can all feel more protected in our worthless, ephemeral, lives.
Religion is just another form of dreams, only an impossible one.
Still it reassures many people, and, returning to our sad subject of death, religion gives an alternative I, as an atheist, cannot think of. I'm my God, showing, once again, a great deal of egocentricity but also leaving no hope of salvation except at my own bare hands. We must face the problems that cross our path. I think most persons try to forget about aging and death. We are taught to accept death as an unavoidable moment in our future.