• Registered: 2006-03-10

Topic: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh … esa124.xml

Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'


By Malcolm Moore, Rome Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:19pm BST 24/08/2007

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who may be canonised as a saint by the Vatican later this year, had a deep crisis of faith in God for the last 40 years of her life, according to a new set of her letters.
# Mother Teresa's crisis of faith won't prevent her canonisation, says Vatican

The correspondence, which spans most of Mother Teresa's life, shows that she felt alone and in a state of spiritual pain from around 1949, roughly the time when she started taking care of the poor and dying in Calcutta.

Although she publicly proclaimed that her heart belonged "entirely to the Heart of Jesus", she wrote to the Rev Michael Van Der Peet, a spiritual confidant, in September 1979 that "Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and 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."

The letter was written just a few weeks before she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her charitable work.

More than 40 other letters, many of which she had asked to be destroyed in her will, show her fighting off feelings of "darkness" and "torture".

The letters are published for the first time in a new book, Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, and are edited by the Rev Brian Kolodiejchuk, a close friend.
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He wrote that during that period, Mother Teresa did not feel God "in her heart or in the eucharist".

Mr Kolodiejchuk gathered the letters as part of the process to make Mother Teresa a saint, and is responsible for arguing in her favour. He said the letters would show people another side of her life, and said that the fact that she was able to continue her work during such torment was a sign of her spiritual heroism. Mother Teresa has been beatified, and is awaiting canonisation.

The Vatican has insisted that the revelations will not obstruct her path to sainthood.

“Lord, my God, you have thrown [me] away as unwanted - unloved,” she wrote in one missive. “I call, I cling, I want, and there is no one to answer, no, no one. Alone. Where is my faith? even deep down right in there is nothing. I have no faith. I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart.”

She added: “I am told God loves me, and yet the reality of the darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?”

She even compared her problems to hell and admitted that she had begun to doubt the existence of heaven and God.

"The smile," she wrote, "is a mask or a cloak that covers everything. I spoke as if my very heart was in love with God, a tender personal love. If you were there you would have said, 'What hypocrisy'."

Tim

  • From: Isle of Lucy
  • Registered: 2005-11-07

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Yep. She was right. There is no God.

There will be two Ages. The first: The Age of Power. The next: The Age of Equality.

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  • lyra
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Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

There isn't a "God" the way people have been taught.  Catholics and Christians in particular believe in god as this actual being of sorts that comes when called, and they're always looking to feel this being's presence, same with Jesus.  I actually think it's admirable for her to admit to not feeling it, considering who she was.  Many Christians/Catholics probably are afraid to admit that they're not getting anything back when they call the "God Being" on the figurative phone.  I also think some of them are pretending when they claim to hear something because they're afraid of how they'll look if they admit the truth.  If everybody believes that everybody else is having great results, who's going to dare to be the first to tentatively raise their hand and admit that "Uhh....I've never felt or heard anything back in all the time I've prayed." 

However there clearly are higher entities and "higher selves" that look out for people, as myself and many others have seen and experienced for ourselves.  In my write up about my experiences connecting up to my higher self I noted that in all those years growing up where I looked for a "God" being as we've been taught and occasionally prayed to it and waited to feel its presence I never once felt anything.  Anything, ever.  But I was able to connect up to my own higher self, loud and clear when I attempted that.  And it had some pretty high up there concepts to relay. 

There's so much to say about the nature of religion, particularly Christianity/Catholicism, the deception, the way people have been lied to, brainwashed and fear mongered over the centuries into believing certain things while shunning other, often valid, concepts.  If the idea of God as it's commonly taught is wrong, then of course how would people hear it or feel it?  The line is going to come back empty.  So again, it's interesting and even commendable of Mother Theresa of all people to risk admitting to such a thing.

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit ... what a ride!"  - Anonymous
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  • montalk
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Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Reminds me of that funny quote, "If you talk to God, you're faithful. If God talks to you, you're crazy."

Acquiring fringe knowledge is like digging for diamonds in a mine field.

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  • Registered: 2007-06-27

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Wow. Just wow. That's amazing. Too bad she burned those other letters, more insight into this struggle of hers and ultimately... so many of these 'External God' believers (Catholics, etc.). I used to be Catholic and I felt that too, I'd reach out and there would be this feeling of nothing. I just could never get my mind fully around this idea of some 'sky-Daddy' who answered my every request, even when I was really young Catholicism never made that much of an imprint except... that threat of hellfire if you didn't bow down and worship God. But reading this helps me shrug off even that old imprint of fear. If someone as pure-hearted and as selfless as Mother Teresa can question the existence of God, I can too.

I think I should get that book of hers, I think a lot of people should get it and read it. Instead of intellectual arguments expounding the 'evility' of organized religion, something like Mother Teresa's struggle might open people's minds and hearts to a world of possibility beyond organized religion. Then maybe we can start with the intellectual arguments.:)

  • From: Denver
  • Registered: 2006-08-25

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

lyra wrote:

I actually think it's admirable for her to admit to not feeling it, considering who she was.

I would agree with this if she had actually admitted it... but I don't think she ever had any actual intention of admitting to those feelings - especially based on her dying request to have the letters destroyed.  It seems a little too hypocritical for her to have preached to the world about her faith in god - and to accept millions and millions of dollars from people based on that premise.  It seems awfully underhanded to mislead the public about her true feelings.  I can only speculate that she would have done this because a 'faithful woman of god' probably gets a lot more donations than a simple honest woman would have gotten.


persephonevii wrote:

If someone as pure-hearted and as selfless as Mother Teresa can question the existence of God, I can too.

I'm not trying to trash Mother Teresa, here.  I liked your point, and think she certainly made more of an effort to help others than most people do... but I wouldn't go as far as to call her selfless - I don't buy this crap about what 'a saint' she was.  In light of her true spiritual standpoint, it sort of seems like she was full of shit.  In some ways, in seems like she lied to people to maintain her false image in order to sucker people into fighting for her cause.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for helping less fortunate people, but the more I read about her the more I think she's a bit overrated.  She received A LOT of money, which she did not actually have to work for.  Sure, she definitely gave some back - but I think a lot of her work is more hype than help.


Here's some quick quotes from another article about her.  These aren't the best examples, but a quick attempt to reflect on some of the stuff I was reading about her work since all this came out about her faith.  There was interesting, more specific stuff about what she had done in Calcutta - so I may post up some better examples later if I have time to find 'em.  Sounded like she was doin some dirt, tho.  I remember reading something about her re-using hypodermic needles on people and subjecting them to some pretty dangerous health risks and unsanitary conditions... in the name of being 'helpful' and trying to do 'something good'.  I'll have to find more details but in the meantime:



"No one knows what happens to the millions of dollars Mother Teresa receives. There is no accounting and no evidence that she has built a hospital or orphanage that reflects modern health and sanitary conditions."

"One of Mother Teresa’s volunteers in Calcutta described her “Home for the Dying” as resembling photos of concentration camps such as Belsen. No chairs, just stretcher beds. Virtually no medical care or painkillers beyond aspirin, and a refusal to take a 15-year-old boy to a hospital. Hitchens adds, “Bear in mind that Mother Teresa’s global income is more than enough to outfit several first class clinics in Bengal. The decision not to do so... is a deliberate one."

"The author mentions her visit to Haiti and her endorsement of the Duvaliers, the source of much deprivation of the poor in Haiti. Also, her acceptance of stolen money from Charles Keating, “now serving a ten-year sentence for his part in the savings and loan scandal.” Keating, a “Catholic fundamentalist”, gave Mother Teresa one and a quarter million dollars and “the use of his private jet.” During the course of Keating’s trial, Mother Teresa wrote Judge Ito asking clemency and asked Ito 'to do what Jesus would do.'

One of the prosecutors in the trial wrote her telling her “of 17,000 individuals from whom Mr. Keating stole $252,000,000.” He added, “You urge Judge Ito to look into his heart--as he sentences Charles Keating--and do what Jesus would do. I submit the same challenge to you. Ask yourself what Jesus would do if he were given the fruits of a crime; what Jesus would do if he were in possession of money that had been stolen; what Jesus would do if he were being exploited by a thief to ease his conscience.” The prosecutor asked her to return the money, and offered to put her “in direct contact with the rightful owners of the property now in your possession.” This supposed paragon of virtue never replied to his letter."

source:
http://www.population-security.org/swom-96-09.htm

Good intentions don't justify bad actions!  It's hard to know how to really feel about it, cuz it's got a bit of a robin hood element to it.  She was only human, not perfect, and she did do some pretty amazing things for humanity - but at the same time it's sort of scary how her actions are completely unquestioned. 

Hopefully I don't sound like I'm trying to be a huge judgmental jerk about it... but I can't help but wonder.

  • lyra
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Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Prances Fences wrote:

... but I wouldn't go as far as to call her selfless - I don't buy this crap about what 'a saint' she was.

As well you shouldn't!

They have it all on video..............Mother Teresa trashing a hotel room!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rX8pkq8WItk

haha

Sorry, couldn't resist.........

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit ... what a ride!"  - Anonymous
-----
"I get by with a little help from my (higher density) friends."
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lyra's Website

8 Reply by Nyarlathotep

  • Nyarlathotep
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Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Check out this Bull$#! show where they expose mother teresa. It is funny and informative.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=8q1m-8npkJ4

  • From: Brazil
  • Registered: 2006-02-11

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

She was from catholic church, all good they do is absolute minimum just a smoke screen.
For me churches = evil

Bye, Pictus

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http://pictus.co.nr

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  • Registered: 2004-06-24

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

I figued out that I must be God because whenever I would start out talking to Him I would end up talking to myself. Nowadays you could just use your cell phone , "hey God! you there? you there?", sort of like calling for room service.

  • From: Isle of Lucy
  • Registered: 2005-11-07

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Wow, interesting story. Evidently, she seemed to believe in Jesus somehow.

There will be two Ages. The first: The Age of Power. The next: The Age of Equality.

kid mongo's Website

12 Reply by PhiConcept (edited by PhiConcept 2007-09-08 06:51:55)

  • PhiConcept
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Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

RCC with all the phony 'saints' is the antichrist.  That's what Jesus spoke against - an institutionalised church, idolising God, setting up abominations to be worshipped (eg. virgin Mary, Jesus on a cross), pope making himself a vicar of Christ and demanding to be called the father, having the blood of non-catholics on their hands, sacrificing children to their master (devil) in the underground chambers of Vatican, having close ties to the Nazi ,the black pope of the bavarian illuminati, jesuits, templar knights, knights of malta, free masons of the highest degrees and who knows who else.

This is the reason mother Theresa (or whatever her real name is) didn't have a connection with God, because she was doing the work of the antichrist or the so called (roman holy empire).

  • From: Isle of Lucy
  • Registered: 2005-11-07

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

There's another possible reason: there really isn't a "God."

There will be two Ages. The first: The Age of Power. The next: The Age of Equality.

kid mongo's Website

  • Registered: 2007-07-22

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

persephonevii wrote:

If someone as pure-hearted and as selfless as Mother Teresa can question the existence of God, I can too.

And there are certainly some who would say with much satisfaction, "Mission accomplished."

An alternative perspective on this startlingly revelatory collection of letters may be that they've been gathered for just such a purpose as timely fuel for rabid, frothing unbelief.

"Oh where have you been, my blue-eyed son? Where have you been, my darling young one?" - Roxy Music (B. Dylan)
  • Registered: 2007-06-27

Re: Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Prances Fences wrote:
persephonevii wrote:

If someone as pure-hearted and as selfless as Mother Teresa can question the existence of God, I can too.

I'm not trying to trash Mother Teresa, here.  I liked your point, and think she certainly made more of an effort to help others than most people do... but I wouldn't go as far as to call her selfless - I don't buy this crap about what 'a saint' she was.  In light of her true spiritual standpoint, it sort of seems like she was full of shit.  In some ways, in seems like she lied to people to maintain her false image in order to sucker people into fighting for her cause.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for helping less fortunate people, but the more I read about her the more I think she's a bit overrated.  She received A LOT of money, which she did not actually have to work for.  Sure, she definitely gave some back - but I think a lot of her work is more hype than help.

Again, I'm stunned. I've been brought up to believe unquestionably in the unquestionable purity of saints. Even before this when I was on NR, I've never thought she would be like this. I would never of believed it. Another 'saintly' lady, Princess Diana, I read in an essay claimed/proved that she was very flawed. But somehow it never shocked me, it was like I always knew she was not perfect and in the end I still liked her. But Mother Teresa, it's really shocking to me. Even those two ladies were friends, still I can accept the Princess being flawed, but not her 'saint' buddy. Or rather I'm having a hard time accepting it. I can understand her questioning of God, but what appears to be almost con-woman like behaviour, eek!

shukaido wrote:
persephonevii wrote:

If someone as pure-hearted and as selfless as Mother Teresa can question the existence of God, I can too.

And there are certainly some who would say with much satisfaction, "Mission accomplished."

No, I didn't mean it like that. More like the the Roman Catholic/sky-Daddy god, not the universal intelligence or source, whatever you want to call it. Being brought up as an RC, I have moved on from the RC Church but the idea of a sky-Daddy god and his stern threat of hellfire have managed to somehow still cling to me. But seeing someone like MT question the existence of said sky-Daddy, helps me lose that old RC influence too.