Why do so many people believe in an afterlife?

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there has got to be something better than this life, just beyond the bend. and i believe there is, indeed-

I died as a mineral and became a plant;
I died as a plant and rose to animal;
I died as animal and I was a man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as man to soar
With angels blest. Yet even from an angel
I must pass on; All except God must perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind ever conceived.
[rumi]

people like edgar cayce and dr. raymond moody gave me a lot of hope so far in my life, as well as a sense of moral direction.

Sure thing.

I believe because I've seen it. Plus, what would the point to life be if there were nothing after physical death?

Comfort.

Now you just assume that there has to be a point to life, or a reason. Just because you want a reason is not a real argument for the existance of some afterlife.

No, Jaden said he has seen it.
Second, he asked a question: 'What would be the point to life if there was nothing after it?'
I am glad you responded to his post, but are you able to answer his question?

Logically speaking, one can still ascribe a purpose to life even if he doesn't believe there's anything for him after death.

For me, it's worth living because I like the good feelings I've experienced in my life especially with people I've grown to like and with interests and hobbies I've come to enjoy. All thanks to the "gift" of life. And so I wouldn't want to let go of the good feelings so easily just because there's no objective point to living.

Right, even "Because there's nothing better to do" works here.

I think a better question would be "Is there a purpose to life?", and my answer would be "No, don't worry about it".

But you still believe in an afterlife.

the universe culminates in the experience of this moment of being alive. nothing seems to be lacking. no need for a hereafter.

I do?

That's practically what I said. Point = Purpose = Reason for being.
To which you could've simply said "I don't think there is a point/purpose (yadda yadda here)", instead of making assumptions about what I do and don't assume to be true like you did in your first statement.
You likely don't know this, but I don't like when people put words in my mouth or try to tell me what I do and don't assume, and I do speak up when people do that and those people tend to not like me nor what I have to say afterward. Now, I'm perfectly willing to have a civilized conversation with you about what beliefs I personally have (I wouldn't presume to speak for others)(because that's the point of the thread). I don't think you're consciously trying to start anything, I'm just saying.

Now, since that's out of the way:
If there is no purpose to existence (life) then why bother with it at all? And if there is no purpose in said existence, what is the point to continuing to allow it to exist? If life is meaningless then why continue with existing in said condition?

I believe that we are here to learn, and to adapt our way of thinking to prepare for what is to come in the hereafter.

So you argue as a pure hedonist?

Except the nagging inescapable feeling that there must be something more...