What would the effects of the zombie apocalpse have on anyone that survived long enough to rationalize the situation? Would people turn to roligion or would they turn away from it? Would drinking become a prevalent coping method? Just how wouldpeople react to the dead coming back to life and killing 95% of the human population in a short time have on people?
What survivors?
Theysa all gonna die....
But to get your conversation moving along, I believe that, much like the effect that the A-Bomb had on Japan - first, much maligning of life in general 'cause most of the world is now "gone". But then, if the social organism can get it's shiz together, then the re-building will be stronger!
As for coping method? Shooting techniques ....
Drinking could only be effective until the brew expires. A person would have to give into their strongest attributes. Depending on the combination they might get weeded out in the second round of unnatural selection.
I'd figure that religon would only be left to the strictest belivers or the totally insane. It would be hard for most survivors to find any hope of a god when something as inconceivable as the dead rising and consuming the living has occured. The hard-core believers would be banking on their deity to either swoop down and rescue them or only bring salvation after humanity has paid the price for its sins. These are the ones (IMO) who will fall into delusion and madness the fastest as their wait grows and grows.
Those who were non-believers before the Zompocalypse that turned to religion due to fear and desperation would have to think of themselves as already damned. They'd need to make an act of contrition while maintaining a pious existance to be forgiven.
I think most survivors would seek out other survivors as an effect of coping (the whole "I can make it through today because I might find someone tomorrow" thing).
Self medication would only work for a little bit. To survive you'd need all of your wits and reflexes. I also think the temptaion of suicide would curb any heavy binges.
It seems to me that we'd see a spike in the number of suicide cults, with members preparing themselves en masse for death before drinking the Kool-Aid or pulling the trigger or tightening the noose or whatever. I think that you underestimate the comforting power of religion when you conclude that only the strictest or craziest believers would maintain their faith. Countless people would fall back on whatever religious instruction they'd endured as kids, and many others would embrace whatever feel-good spirituality they could get their metaphysical hands on. I don't accept that too many people would conclude that they're "already damned;" I think that a lot would instead identify themselves as the "last of the righteous" or something similar.
Sure, there'd be a lot of people of a decidedly nihilistic bent, and I could see these types either lapsing into apathy or else partying like it's 1999 until the zombies beat down the door.
Just speculating here, of course. I lay claim to no special theological insights.
I think I just have a very black opinion of humanity in general.
I have to agree with mrgravedigger. I believe more people will turn to religion in order to try and find some kind of sense in what is happening. Those with more fragile minds to begin with will probably go insane quicker. Although, I think some may be surprised by their own strength in the situation.
I'd like to think I'd be calm and in control but I doubt it. I'd probably spend at least a few days trying to cope with the whole idea. If I wasn't dead after that I might be okay. At least I hope so. 
Just have a calender and tell yourself "if I survive a week I can do it again."
The original "Day of the Dead" poses this question and gives us a cast of characters to answer it. No real religious types in Romero's answer then.
I think in reality people who are isolated and in very lonely and horrifying situations for a time will start talking to whatever higher power as a way to keep their sanity. They might become bitter about that higher power, but they continue to "deal" with the religion issue; it haunts them.
For "crazy" religious Ozark mountain folks and zombies, I can't wait for you all to get to see the third book in Robb's zombie trilogy. It's gonna be fun.
Didn't the woman's whinny boyfriend suck his cross and stuff? Does that count?
Hey, I happen to be from the ozarks. Good ole' Branson, Missouri has ideal terrain for protection from the undead. Plus there's Crazy Baptists thinking it's the end of the world protecting themselves with firearms AND Crazy Meth-heads taking to the streets to pilfer suda-fed and lexus's with guns. Either way both groups are insane and usually well-armed.
And I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't find some crazy coping mechanism from talking to god to the voice in there head.
Game over, man! Game over!
I've been to Branson. Looks a little like a small Vegas. Beautiful area, though.
I worship Cthullu and the elder gods.
Didn't the woman's whinny boyfriend suck his cross and stuff? Does that count?
-dancingfred
Right! Duh! I should have remembered that. I've been working on a parody song about her...
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