you ought to look into existentialism. hell, existentialism even works with religion (see tolsoy). religion isn’t inherently bad. all religions are not christianity, and tell you the purpose of life is the afterlife. religion is a natural reaction to the the fact that as humans we can imagion a great deal, and the fact that we often imagion more than what there is. it is only because you believed in santa claus for example, that when you find that he isn’t real you feel lose. but what lose was there? you had no santa cluase to loose. if belief in an afterlife brings you peace than by all means believe away. but know that you may be wrong, you may be right but if your wrong than you loose nothing. and if your right there probably isn’t one single corect religion, that would violate logic, so be respectful about it.

but than again lets say there is a god. or gods, doesn’t really matter. at the end of the day there is no solid reason for existing. there is no reason something is inherently better than nothing. and because god(s) thought it would be cool to make some life doesn’t mean life has meaning. even that is an existential choice. just ask lucifarians, or whatever there called. people who believe in the christian god, but believe he is an evil tyrant and that the angel lucifer is a noble freedom fighter. they choose to rebel against the god they claim gave them existance. so therefore meaning still does not come from divine sources, but rather ourself and our own choice.