//One presumes that Damien's faith is what spurred him on//

Or perhaps he was just a man of unusual compassion. Compassion is not contingent on religious faith, and is displayed by theists and atheists alike.

Thanks Is Mise. I was waiting for a response like yours.

People like that would probably be compassionate and charitable no matter what their beliefs are with regards to superstition. Those who would not, are probably just earning a credit rating with an imbecilic God who falls for feigned charitable deeds.

Good deeds are often wrongly attributed to religious belief. What people often don’t seem to realise, however, is that all religion does is provide a framework for otherwise genuine charitable people. No-one, for example, is going to start a charity in the name of a lack of belief in something. So, for this reason, we don't see any overtly atheistic charities (although, I have a list that I donate to, so as to not provide any faith-based institutions with a reason to exist).

Faith, however, does come with major drawbacks. Which has been the main topic of this thread. A more subtle problem with the belief in something for which there is no evidence can be demonstrated with the example of the person who thinks they’ve won the lottery when they haven’t.

But I’ve been through that many times in the past and see no reason to repeat myself now.

Actually, my claim about those forming charitable institutions in the name of a lack of belief in something wasn't quite accurate. There are a few atheist groups now who have started charitable groups such as http://www.facebook.com/AtheistsHelpingtheHomelessHouston, where the homeless can get a feed without having to hear a sermon first.

There's always the catch of conversion when it comes to religious charity.

The very nature of the term atheist is a negative idea given to the seeker of a meal; at least our meals to persons living rough is called Hope.

Obviously you guys do not listen to love songs as it has no rational logic and it might make you feel good. As you have divorced basing feeling good from logic.

There is no logical reason to care about one who wishes you dead, but for followers of Christ it is expected - "Love your enemy", "Feed your enemy," "Be concerned in prayer for the welfare of your enemy," Of course following Christ is not logical but it changes hearts and minds. It changes minds because they cannot follow the logic.

Damien devoted his life to helping the lepers now he may have done it out of compassion alone but given that he was a Catholic priest one may also assume that he was moved by faith.

However let us take an example nearer to home; o sung wu's reformed criminal, if his reformation was genuine then I would imagine that he was moved by faith.
I don't see compassion coming into the picture nor monetary reward.

Dear Josephus,

Christianity did not invent hope. Hope was one of the items in Pandora’s Box in Greek legend. Christianity did not invent a humanoid god who was born of a virgin and was resurrected. Pagan myth is replete with examples of such imaginary creations. Hopefully humanity will advance beyond the need to worship humanoid gods or any other kind of god. We care for each because we are all human beings and part of society. We care for each other because we are able to put ourselves in the other person’s place. We care for other because we hope that in our hour of need someone will care for us.

There are many other reasons to care for each other. We do not need mystic, superstitious mumbojumbo to care for each other.

From questioning and doubt we gain knowledge. Maybe what we’re told is wrong. Maybe we can find another answer besides the currently accepted one and be aware that what we think is so is not so. Faith is the enemy of knowledge. It keeps us from examining and questioning. Hope along with doubt and questioning leads us to work for a better future because we think we may be able to change things for the better. Faith drags us back into a morass of superstition.