Mother Theresa doubted the existence of God...does this worry you?

Question

Have you read the article on the front page of yahoo?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20070823/wl_time/motherteresascrisisoffaith

I always thought Mother Theresa was close to God- that God does exist because at least a few have heard his voice. I assumed Mother Theresa heard his voice- but after reading the article I know that she did not.

People say that she was very close to God yet she says in her personal letters that she does not know if He is there.

Does this worry anyone? If someone so close to God does not feel Him, what does this mean? Has anyone ever heard God? Do you have proof he exists? I want him to be there badly.

Ahh! I don't think anyone understand the GIST of what I am saying. I am saying how do we kow our soul exists if those closest do God do not think he exists.

You all say she is human but I tell you you are MISSING THE POINT!

I think many people in theri faith say yes I have not seen god, bu others have heard him. And they point to figures like the Pope, but if these people who have devoted their life to God think he does not exist...what do we have??? What proof?? it worries me!! I want him to be there! I was hoping people have expeeinced more than a good feeling while praying.

I am happy to hear that one of you has heard him and thanks for trying to comfort me.

I do not appreciate, however, the "you need more faith" or "do you base your faith off of others" comments.

You ALL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE HEARS GOD, YOU FEEL RELIEVED! YOU KNOW THAT GOD AND HEAVEN ALL EXIST AND THAT THIS LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS!

anthony m- I am not even talking about Mother Theresa's faith as a person! Ahh! I'm not criticizing her. Of course no one is perfect OBVIOUSLY!

This isn't even about Mother Theresa, this is about being sure that God is there!

Spike and Delylah- I really do not appreciate the degrading posts you guys made as if you are mocking my question. This is an honest question. How dare you make fun of it- I am really concerned her and to make light of it is really disturbing and just plain mean.

Labbut- I am not reviewing her faith or criticizing her. I know she is human THIS ISNT EVEN ABOUT HER FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE...did anyone ever read my post or did you just answer without listening?

Answer 1

I pray Mother Theresa had repented of her sins, been baptized and received the Holy Spirit of God, because good works do not get you into Heaven. Even someone who spent her life helping others, will not go to Heaven unless she was truly saved.

But as for your main question....on the night I received the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues.....I head the voice of God from a great distance,,,,a powerful sound, but it didn't scare me....he said he was my Father.....that was 27 years ago and I have never for one day forgot that...Do I know that God is real? Oh, yes....I do....I don't know why I was blessed to hear him....maybe because I was seeking after him and crying and didn't care who saw me...I wanted to know the truth about God....I was at an altar on my knees praying for a long time,,,,then a few of my Friends went back with me to the prayer room...I was not leaving until he answered me....he did.....I could feel the power of his voice,,,I heard a noise like the sound of waters rushing over me.....I felt clean and I knew beyound a shadow of a doubt that I had just entered into the KIngdom of God.

Answer 2

First of all- since when has the news ever given us the straight facts with no bias? You can't trust what you read these days. I'm sure it has some basis in fact, but I'm pretty sure if you heard the context of the quotes they gave from Mother Theresa, that would give it a slightly different coloring.

But no, it doesn't worry me. It makes me admire her more, to be honest. She had a hard time in her spiritual life but she knew what was right, and she brought an awful lot of people to God despite her knowledge of her own own weakness. That is a special person right there. What is "feeling God" anyway? Is it hearing a voice booming from the sky? Is it witnessing a miracle? Is it seeing him across the room? I think, rather, that to feel God's presence is to find love and happiness in the little things in life. Seeing the successes, however small, of a silbing, a parent, or a child. Watching a sunset. Receiving a phone call or e-mail from a long-lost friend who just wants to know how you're doing these days. Even finding your car keys after searching frantically for an hour. It's those little things that remind me God is there. If I'm delusional for believing in him when he hasn't physically revealed his presence to me, then so be it. I'd rather labor under that delusion than refuse to allow myself the hope that he's out there.

Answer 3

Ephesians 2:8, 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Mother Theresa did a lot of good things, but may not have been born again. The Catholic church teaches salvation by works. You can "hear" God's voice by reading His Holy Word, the Bible (start with the New Testament). The proof that God exists is that He changes your life when you receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and repent (change your mind) of sin. I'll pray for you.

Answer 4

One of her quotes was...

"Jesus has a very special love for you," she assured Van der Peet. "[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, - Listen and do not hear - the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak ... I want you to pray for me - that I let Him have [a] free hand."

Well - there is nothing WRONG with being a human sometimes. Feeling lost and empty. This does not mean that she decided for sure that God wasn't there. And it doesn't mean that God didn't speak to her. It just means that she felt a lack of faith one day - and she asked somebody to pray for her.

You speak of God as "He" - but I believe that God is Love. The Power of Love. It's easy for me to see. But with all that Mother Theresa saw in her life - I'm sure there were times when the poverty and illness was much more noticeable than the Love we know as God. Good grief - give the woman a break. Faith is important - and it will very often set you free - but lack of it is not something we should judge in others.

It doesn't "worry" me at all - as you ask. She did glorious work while she was here on earth - and it all was the work of God (Love).

Namaste!

Answer 5

No, it doesn't! Think about what a wonderful person Mother Theresa was, even without total faith and devotion to God. Regardless of whether there is a God or not, live your life to the fullest and live as a kind and moral person. And don't worry about death or God.

-Atheist with Morals

Answer 6

yes. mother Theresa did question the existence of God and his Will when she first arrived in India. Her very human eyes took witness to the overwhelming poverty, devastating illness and abandoned people - who grew worse by the day. However, the fact she doubted God does not alarm me, In fact, it is a very strong comfort. It allows me to see her human side. She found God in the eyes of her people and was not deterred by the difficult road she walked with them, rather she embraced them and thus embraced God. As the Bible speaks, whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me, she spent her her life caring for God. Along with her relationship with Princess Diana, both found each other and blessed each other weeks before each died, with Diana giving her a bible and Mother giving her a rosary in which each were buried. Mother Theresa's human doubt served to kindle extraordinary faith

Answer 7

Aquai,

I'll be honest . . . the denomination that she held close to, is not very "Biblical" in its' Christian teaching . . .

The hardest times I ever had in my walk with Christ were directly related to bad doctrine.

The more I am sure of what the Bible says (and that comes from study) the more pleasant the 'inner life' gets.

Now, you may have to read between the lines a bit, but I think I have been clear . . .

Answer 8

Anyone who says they've never, never struggled with their faith is a liar.

All this means was that Mother Teresa was a very wonderful HUMAN. And that doesn't make who she was any less.

Don't base your belief on another person's relationship with God. Does God feel real to you? Do you feel his presence in your life?

Answer 9

It doesn't worry me. And I do not believe everything I read in secular places. So even if it were the kind of thing that would bother me, I would consider the source as unreliable.

Anyway, I have read enough of Mother Theresa to doubt very much that she doubted the existence of God. It seems unreasonable to me.

Answer 10

It doesn't worry me.
But maybe this will give you some comfort. I am an agnostic, but logically the idea of a God makes more sense.
Ask yourself this question.
What is more logical, that life came from something, or that life came from nothing?
How can something come from nothing? If there was nothing, than something (life) could not just spontaneously come into being.