There seems to be a tendency to try to make supernatural beliefs fit into the natural realm. Describing heaven as living on in memories is not very convincing nor very reassuring to those who see heaven in the common use of the term. You will live on somehow until the last person remembers you.
Speaking of mental crutches a lot of folks still like to look at extreme odds events happening as miracles (when they are positive). A sole survivor of a plane crash. A holocaust survivor. Surviving a disease. Etc. But who is charting negative things like lightning strikes, shark attacks, e