The fact that Mother Theresa was an atheist for the last 50 years of her life during which she was considered the most compassionate person in the world.
2007-09-09 07:10:11 · 15 answers · asked by doorofperception13 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It was discovered in secret letters and diary entries
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/11/29/wteres29.xml
2007-09-09 07:15:12 · update #1
First of all, the concept that morality comes from God is not limited to the teachings that come from the Bible because the Bible teaches that God made us in his image and that He gave us consciences.
Genesis 1:27 And God created the man in His own image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female.
Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Secondly, you cannot isolate the moral teachings from God that permeate our society from how people view right and wrong behavior. I was an agnostic for most of my life but I still knew from my parents and from the law of the land that it was wrong to steal or to murder. It wasn't like I was just sitting around thinking one day "Gee I wonder if it's OK to beat someone up and rob them?", I already knew that the society I lived in condemned that behavior.
While the Bible condems those things in the 10 commandments, God didn't leave the rest of humanity in the dark about this. One of the evidences that we are God's creation is our moral consciences. If we were merely the product of natural selection then the primitive people who saw nothing wrong with killing and robbing other people would have wiped out their competitors and that would have become an innate genetic trait.
2007-09-09 07:20:44 · answer #1 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that people who believe that only those of faith have morality is one of the dumbest things ive ever heard, i am not religious at all and I pride myself on my morals. Im no Mother Theresa, but IF she was an atheist and still cared, proves a point in and of itself. You dont have to be religious to be a caring person. And just a quick side note, Mother Theresa was an amazing woman.
2007-09-09 14:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by jay_giles_fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what I don't get about religion, rules. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think all the religions have certain rules that can either condemn you to hell and bar you from heaven if you break them. For Christianity you absolutely must confess that this man that lived 2 thousand years ago is God himself, if you don't acknowledge that then you are going to hell in their eyes. Islam has all kinds it's crazy like tangled up wires, a lot of things will send you to hell. And I don't think Judaism believes in hell. Whatever happened to karma I like that idea what you did in this life and how you treated others will determine how you will feel in death when all those brain cells remember everything you did and if you did something bad it will make you hurt. I don't know why I'm even writing this...lol
2007-09-09 14:20:42 · answer #3 · answered by AK♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mother Teresa was a great lady. She was very smart and we can learn a lot from her. I wish we all could find ways to model her efforts in helping others.
Unbelief and doubt are part of the experience. Some will have it more than others. I am anxious to read Mother Teresa's letters to get a better impression of what her thoughts were.
Many Christian greats have had experiences like this. For example, John of the Cross wrote "A Dark Night of the Soul." Check this book out and it will show you a similar experience while remaining in faith.
Some have argued that Mother Teresa was warned not to start her own mission as she did. The vatican denied her petition for years. Mother Teresa became popular when soemone wrote a book about her and in a way the Vatican was pressured into accepting her petition. The Catholic church is well aware of the discouragement that will follow when someone starts something and are not ready for it. Such was the case for Mother Teresa. I think she put herself into a spot where her pride would not allow her to back out. Additionally, she got so much publicity that she almost had to live up to what they wrote about her. I've read that her faith would come back when she actually had time to rest and get away from her grueling ministry. How sad that she was let alone and not allowed to enjoy her life. Her personality was one of endurance. Unfortunately, friends and superiors didn't step in and let her take care of herself.
I believe Mother Teresa lived out her faith regardless of her doubts. Again, I am anxious to read her writings.
2007-09-09 14:13:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
GOD, why are you afraid to completely spell it? And where did the "fact" that Mother Theresa was an Atheist come from?
2007-09-09 14:15:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
She had doubts, as God introduced her into the Dark Night of the Soul. She obviously has a difficult time with it. This did not make her an atheist.
2007-09-09 14:14:38 · answer #6 · answered by delsydebothom 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok.... you lost me. How do you figure Mother Teresa was an atheist when she was a Roman Catholic nun??? I don't know of any believer that has no doubts; that doesn't mean a person is an atheist, by any means. I think any intelligent person has to question their beliefs on a regular basis; certainly my own Judaism teaches that it is important to question, and to learn from doing so.
I think you're drawing a conclusion that isn't supported by the article you cited, espcially as it mentions that she was distressed at her seeming distance from God. How could she have been distressed by being distant from something that she did not believe existed?
2007-09-09 14:14:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
MASSIVLEY!! You don't have to be a strictly religious person to do all the amazing things she did.
Morals come from man, and they are good, but you CAN be atheist and GOOD at the same time! yes... it IS possible.
2007-09-09 14:20:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this is true, what does it have to do with Christianity or where morality comes from? I don't see the connection.
2007-09-09 14:18:00 · answer #9 · answered by judysbookshop 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dream on, sweet cheeks! While I'm not Catholic, I believe Mother Theresa was a born-again Christian who lived her faith.
You, on the other hand can't even spell "God"!
2007-09-09 14:14:34 · answer #10 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋