Originally published in Psychology Today! Recent studies in the psychology of religion and positive psychology circles point to the various benefits of religious coping. Dealing with the shock of a natural disaster through religiously framed cognitive, emotional, or behavioral responses can change one’s perspective and create a sense of hope amidst life's crisis. This coping style is pertinent to bushfire affected communities in Australia, with research evidence from disaster psychologists showing that comfort found in religious resources, beliefs, or practices generally leads to positive outcomes among disaster survivors.  But what exactly is religious coping and how does it apply to survivors of the Australian bushfire disaster?  Psychologist Kenneth Pargament describes religious coping as how…