"What informed the attitude of the monks, nuns, brothers and priests (and bishops, while we're at it) was their connection with real people with real problems (and God was probably the last thing on their minds)"

So you think they went out into communities and served people and dedicated their lives to help people. They TOOK A VOW OF CELIBACY which to your knowledge most of them kept. And you think that (God was probably the last thing on their minds) How many atheists do you think pledge their lives to Dawkins and go into the community and serve teach and feed people for no reward other than a stipend to live on?

Do they do it for Science?