The word "faith" is sufficient to describe the discordance here.

A person cannot be reasoned out of a position they didn't reason themselves into.

I believe you are misunderstanding empathy. Putting yourself in the shoe of the other and feeling his pain does not necessarily leads to guilt.

I don't recall suggesting that it must.

(I do recall saying suggesting that people will not be swayed from whatever they believe on this matter, though.)

Why do you donate? Do you owe them anything? No. Yet, you still donate. But how much do you donate? Why that amount and not nearly everything? Surely there are people in need!

Can donations be egoistic? Wanting to improve others lives will lead to a better world also for me, even if that's one dime a time.

You are right. I haven't thought about donations possibly not being altruistic, but there actually are such ones. Personally I would say we need separate words to distinguish egoistic charity/donations from the altruistic ones.

But how does donating to some poor people abroad benefits you?