interesting article on the late Mother Theresa and religion in the US

[bogdi]

a critical look at MT (thanks to @'s Jacques). I always a had the positive albeit decidedly uninformed (if I had to think about it) opinion about MT that most people had/have. The best point that Hitchens makes is that we need to take a harder look at our symbols, especially if we consider ourselves rational people ;)

Comments

[ellacinders]

i both love and despise hitchens. he can be so damn smart, but then so damn stupid, too. either way, he's consistently a shit-stirrer. ;) have you read "letters to a young contrarian"? i recommend!

thanks for this link, btw. <3

[bogdi]

I have not read anything else. Thanks for the recommendation :)

[atlas_of_clouds]

There's some interesting information in there... I think I'll send it to my parents to piss them off. :p

happy easter!

[bogdi]

;)

[master_shaman]

OK.
So the things about Mother Theresa are highly debatable, however in my opinion she did what she thought was best. Was that flawed? Probably. But I do believe she followed her heart and her conscience, and that I find admirable.
Still, the most interesting part of the article to me is where he comments on the reasons behind American fundamentalism. Living in a country with a dominant church (Orthodox, almost 90% of the population), I can understand very well what he's saying. There is no such thing as a pro-life movement. New Age bullshit is laughed at and scorned. It's much more about pure spirituality, traditions and rituals then it is about dogma. In many aspects, people are able to discern between fundamentalist dogma and practical thinking and to choose the latter in most cases.

[bogdi]

don't forget the country has had its share of communist materialism for 50 years, which meant school and religion have been strictly separated.

[master_shaman]

Yeah, but not anymore. They teach religion in school nowadays. But people just don't fall for that.

[bogdi]

they do?????????

[kundavega]

Really interesting. I agree that all persons who are looked upon as unquestionable saints are the ones whose motives should more than anyone's be questioned. And for me that definitely includes even Christ. Once you deify people to the point of no wrong...that is where the danger becomes a brushfire.

Thanks!
xo
Rachel

[bogdi]

you're welcome :)