Re: if your family was wiped out would you move closer or away from religion?
I think of it this way. The prophet (PBUH) was the most exalted person ever born and ever will be born. Confirmation of this is mentioned several times in the Quran. No one else could have led a better life (in the eyes of God) than the prophet (PBUH).
YET at the same, the prophet (PBUH) has gone through more afflictions in his lifetime than we can ever imagine. Was an orphan from birth, lost his mother at an early age, given the great burden of prophethood, constant persecution, driven from this homeland by his own people, losing his wife, losing his only 2 sons at such early age, and the list goes on.
If God can cause so much suffering for such an exalted person, then who are we sinners to complain? This world is only temporary and any pain that we go through in this life, will be more than compensated for in the hereafter. Now ofcourse, we are humans and we cannot help being emotional. But that is exactly where faith kicks in, to help us heal and move on.