tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post1497764991184161784..comments2013-11-16T07:09:11.728-08:00Comments on Rants of a Raving Lunatic: Mother Teresa Was No SaintBrian Dykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801389660877417862noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-28530613886879035622013-11-16T07:09:11.728-08:002013-11-16T07:09:11.728-08:00the point about people suffering depression can...the point about people suffering depression can't be saints is quite insulting and hurtful to those who suffer depression. That disease does by it's nature make you feel awful all the time pretty much and it isn't under your control. The fact that she continued on even when feeling such a deep lack of faith and emptiness is a testament to her strength, not a weakness that would deny her sainthood. For myself, I don't know if she is a saint. But I don't subscribe to catholic views on these matters. Plenty of people live and die as saints, and no one ever knows it. Many who suffer depression are among them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572565998281379271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-80494819667582315972013-11-16T07:08:50.374-08:002013-11-16T07:08:50.374-08:00the point about people suffering depression can...the point about people suffering depression can't be saints is quite insulting and hurtful to those who suffer depression. That disease does by it's nature make you feel awful all the time pretty much and it isn't under your control. The fact that she continued on even when feeling such a deep lack of faith and emptiness is a testament to her strength, not a weakness that would deny her sainthood. For myself, I don't know if she is a saint. But I don't subscribe to catholic views on these matters. Plenty of people live and die as saints, and no one ever knows it. Many who suffer depression are among them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572565998281379271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-40945762889103791712012-06-09T09:53:45.813-07:002012-06-09T09:53:45.813-07:00I agree with all the points in the first comment t...I agree with all the points in the first comment that was made anonymously. My main problem with this post is that you are stating that Mo. Teresa could have done more. <br /><br />I think you are in no position to say that unless you can say that unless you are doing what she has done and STILL HAVE THE TIME to work socially and do what you are suggesting. <br /><br />Everyone has limits even Mo. Teresa. <br /><br />Always remember that it is easier to criticize people when you are not in their position.Christienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-42138422192081185122011-08-21T11:25:58.108-07:002011-08-21T11:25:58.108-07:00Also, Mother Teresa had great doubts, sufferings, ...Also, Mother Teresa had great doubts, sufferings, and depression. She did not have peace in her heart--a sign that she really was a saint.<br />I think that by operating under the guise fo the Catholic Church, she could be compared as in an "unhappy, miserable" marriage. She could not divorse--and was trapped. So I know you (Raving Lunatic) are right about the rights of women.<br />She had deep misgivings about her faith, and felt a darkness deep inside.<br />I was raised a Catholic, and lived in an abusive marriage--and now free of both. <br />No, Mother Teresa was not a saint--a great and good woman--but not a saint because she did not embrace life, and feel the peace and happiness of the miracle of life on this earth.<br />Perhaps she helped and loved the sick and miserable, but she was incapable of bestowing peace through her spirit.<br />As for you being a "Raving Lunatic," perhaps you are sane person in a lunatic world?Sandy Watersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-38035933050193032652010-09-05T18:19:28.781-07:002010-09-05T18:19:28.781-07:00This is the third time I've come across your p...This is the third time I've come across your post, I find it very interesting. It covers most of how I feel. Thank you for the good read!mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058081250879366022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-61661947393594523292009-12-17T09:56:40.908-08:002009-12-17T09:56:40.908-08:00I apologize for the necro-post but, frankly, the i...I apologize for the necro-post but, frankly, the internet is forever so I don't really believe anything is "necro." I found this topic today, 7 months after it was written, but I still think my comments will be useful to the next person who reads them.<br /><br />1. She was staunchly against birth-control. Birth control is something which helps reduce human reproduction. Having a child can cause misery, that is why birth control is used - to reduce misery. Thus, by advocating against birth-control MT was contributing to the misery of those she was helping. While it is true that men can use birth control, the reality is that women can take a pill and CONTROL whether or not they get pregnant. See the difference, there? In one situation she is free to make her own decision, in the other she must rely on someone else.<br /><br />Another example of 1. is divorce, something she was against. Being in an unhappy marriage can make you miserable. Being unable to escape said marriage can make you miserable. By advocating that divorce be illegal in India, MT contributed to the misery of those for whom she cared.<br /><br />2. Accurate but I actually remember nodding emphatically as I read that part. She wasn't a saint, by my definition either. Unless you'd like to put forth a definition for what a saint is you've, essentially, left the definition up to the reader. If you disagree, you owe an explanation as to what, exactly, a saint is. Otherwise we get it and you don't.<br /><br />Funny how Catholics use the word but don't define it, huh?<br /><br />You're trying to argue that birth control, since it applies to men, is not a way to control women. What you omit is that while men and women are equal, they are not equivalent and birth control has a greater impact on women (the people who hurt for 9 months) than it does on men.<br /><br />Further, in countries where women are less than men, men are often free to divorce, leaving a woman with a brood of children and no one to take care of them.<br /><br />I find it ironic that those who would hold MT up as a Saint don't even bother to define the term, nor to admit the possibility that she did both good and evil in her life. And even more, she KNEW she was doing both good and evil because she'd have to be mentally retarded to not understand that having no rights, sucks.<br /><br />Christopher Hitchens did a book called The Missionary Position. Read it.<br /><br />Also see Colette Livermore's book Hope Endures: Leaving Mother Teresa, Losing Faith, and Searching for Meaning. Colette used to work with MT but left because of some of her practices.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09707235501004401930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6512793797392225365.post-31176673298332131402009-05-31T20:42:34.584-07:002009-05-31T20:42:34.584-07:00Interesting blog…
Unfortunately, you make a number...Interesting blog…<br />Unfortunately, you make a number of bold and yet curiously unsubstantiated claims, to which I extend invitations to you to provide proof that supports your statements.<br />Let’s review:<br />1. “…CONTRIBUTED TO THE MISERY OF THOSE FOR WHOM SHE CARED”: a purely subjective statement and a derogatory accusation for which you offer no evidence. You appear to base you claim on your subjective opinion that she could have done more. It is my opinion (and most likely, other would agree) that unless your own charitable works match hers, you are in no position to criticize. <br />2. DEFINITION OF “SAINT”: You state that because (in your opinion) MT did not fight against the causes of poverty, she “should not be considered saintly by any definition at all.” For this to be an accurate statement, there would have to be (at the very least) a definition of saint somewhere that explicitly requires fighting the causes of poverty is the key criteria for sainthood. Since “saint” is at its heart a Catholic term, you may wish to start with a Catholic dictionary. (Hint: there is no such definition).<br />3. “…ADVOCATE FOR AND AGAINST ISSUES WHICH…CONTINUE AND EXACERBATE HUMAN SUFFERING…” You fail to provide objective substantiation for your claim by offering any real data, and you’re obviously slanting the information by not listing the other roots of poverty (a top ten list with a quantitative weighting would have been a start). I’m not disputing the importance of women’s rights in fighting poverty –I’m disputing the way the information has been presented (or omitted to fit your case).<br /><br />And about your selective commentary on Catholic Doctrine:<br /><br />OPPOSITION TO BIRTH CONTROL & ABORTION: The Catholic opposition to birth control also applies to men, and its pro-life stance not only prohibits abortion, but capital punishment as well. As such, these positions (if correctly understood and honestly approached) cannot be interpreted as a conspiracy against the rights of women.<br /><br />Your lack of substantiation for your claims and selective call-outs of Catholic doctrine make it all-too-obvious that you have an ax to grind against the Catholic Church. However, your personal grudge does a disservice to your readers. <br /><br />Regardless of whether you agree with MT’s canonization, if you’re going to criticize and make derogatory accusations, you should provide bullet-proof substantiation so your readers can weigh the facts and judge for themselves. Otherwise, ironically, it is YOU who is failing to use your platform to be an advocate to end to human misery and in propagating misinformation, ultimately contribute to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com