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The Missionary Position

Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice

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The Missionary Position

By: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon - foreword
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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About this listen

"A religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer, and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. Her mission has always been of this kind. The irony is that she has never been able to induce anybody to believe her. It is past time that she was duly honored and taken at her word." Among his many books, perhaps none have sparked more outrage than The Missionary Position, Christopher Hitchens's meticulous study of the life and deeds of Mother Teresa.

A Nobel Peace Prize recipient beatified by the Catholic Church in 2003, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was celebrated by heads of state and adored by millions for her work on behalf of the poor. In his measured critique, Hitchens asks only that Mother Teresa's reputation be judged by her actions-not the other way around.

With characteristic élan and rhetorical dexterity, Hitchens eviscerates the fawning cult of Teresa, recasting the Albanian missionary as a spurious, despotic, and megalomaniacal operative of the wealthy who long opposed measures to end poverty, and fraternized, for financial gain, with tyrants and white-collar criminals throughout the world.

©1995 Christopher Hitchens (P)2012 Audible Ltd Politics & Government United States World

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Most relevant  
Well worth your time listening to this impressively constructed, creatively articulated, extensively well researched and superbly narrated piece of polemic.

A must for any Christopher Hitchens appreciaters

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Hitch is scalpel like in his dissection of the Catholic Churches untouchables. He ably shows how this woman, should not be venerated and whose actions definitely did nothing but ruin the lives of those in her pastoral care.

A great takedown

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Having visited one of The Sisters Of Charity's houses in Calcutta, the week before MT died, and feeling utterly aghast at the horrendous conditions the patients were 'living' under, I am pleased to discover that I am not the first person to accurately judge the work of this woman, with something less than a fair report. This book is an important work.

Refreshed to hear and alternative view on the woman.

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a fascinating exercise in iconoclasm by my favourite contrarian atheist. By God he was good

hitchslap

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I won’t be providing any spillers or insights. It wouldn’t do it justice, 15 words

Unmistakably Hitch, shining a light on an untouchable figure and I’m doing so, us as well

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I've always been slightly nauseated by the media 'deification' of Mother Teresa. Now I know why!

Who'd have thought it?

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Well researched book making many valid points that we should all be aware of. Too often money is given to causes that does not reach the people in need. Many people in powerful positions have an ulterior and sinister reason for their apparent devotion to duty and Mother Teresa seems to be one such person.

A great insight

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There are non so blind who cannot see. Whilst I knew a lot of this I still learnt a lot. Beautiful put together, to the point and easy read.

The truth will 'Out'!

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I would implore anyone who at all wonders or questions to investigate the world of Mother Teresa. Just as Gandhi put his wife's life into the lap of the gods but took quinine himself when six weeks later he got malaria.
Once you open this door then further investigation will reveal much more of her belief in pain and suffering
at a 1981 press conference in which she was asked: "Do you teach the poor to endure their lot?" She replied: "I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people"

Welcome to reality

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Based on facts and written clearly. It sheds light on things in a common sense and unsentimental manner.

Informative and thought provoking

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