Revolts of the Righteous

Recent bestsellers suggest that religious faith is really a sign of backwardness, the mark of primitives stuck in the dark ages who are yet to catch up with scientific reason.

Religion, we are told, is responsible for violence, oppression, poverty, and many other ills.
It is not difficult to find examples to back up such assertions. But can religion also be a force for good? Indeed, are there cases where religious faith comes to the rescue even of those who don't have it?