The fact that the Christian story is so comforting explains, I think, its enormous appeal. After all, who wouldn't want to have a good time in the afterlife?

Its appeal can also be explained because it is a manifestation of the dying-and-resurrecting saviour god which is a powerful and enduring archetypal idea/mythologem which goes back a long way.

It's not surprising that you didn't find such ideas in Methodism.

The idea that the gospel story may be allegorical/have mythical elements does not mean that there wasn't an actual person who we now know as Jesus. The question then becomes, what was that person like? Hence the search for the Historical Jesus, which has been going on for many decades, with much effort by scholars. The Mythicists, of course, deny that such a person existed.

You may or may not be aware that I have written many other articles on Christianity on Medium. If you're interested, check out my lists. There are some about a third of the way down, and others nearer the bottom.

Best wishes