there are, indeed, fine distinctions to be made about 'faith' and 'belief' and about concepts of proof. The only reason I can abide things like Lourdes at all is that they may provide some focus for the mind to aid in whatever 'healing' is possible. I would, from my viewpoint, wish that other ways were found to do that focusing, but we are very far from that in most cultures.

Sceptics have asked for many years why there are a few seemingly miraculous cures, but literally millions of failures among good, honest, decent, faithful people who believed and prayed.
(Yes, I know the replies that the sceptics are given...and I accept that people must seek their own answers and come to terms with mortality in their own way...I just would like [10 minutes thinking here what I want to say] to see the struggle against adversity and for inner peace addressed in more productive ways than tedious, expensive pilgramages to dubious spots that have become more 'industry' than shrines.)

No, I do not necessarily expect anyone to change their behavior or beliefs because of my soapbox speeches and musings, but over the centuries, attitudes and beliefs have changed as human beings debated and thought and argued and discussed their world....and we are never finished.