The Missionary Position: Summary Review

This is a summary review of The Missionary Position containing key details about the book.

What is The Missionary Position About?

“The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice” is a book by Christopher Hitchens that critiques the image and work of Mother Teresa.

The Missionary Position’s introduction is devoted to Mother Teresa’s acceptance of an award from the government of Haiti, which Hitchens uses to discuss her relationship to the Duvalier regime. From her praise of the country’s corrupt first family, he writes, “Other questions arise … all of them touching on matters of saintliness, modesty, humility and devotion to the poor.” He adds other examples of Mother Teresa’s relationships with powerful people with what he considers dubious reputations. He quickly reviews Mother Teresa’s saintly reputation in books devoted to her and describes the process of beatification and canonization under Pope John Paul II. Finally, he disclaims any quarrel with Mother Teresa herself and says he is more concerned with the public view of her: “What follows here is an argument not with a deceiver but with the deceived.”

Summary Points & Takeaways from The Missionary Position

Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:

* Criticism of Mother Teresa’s practices: The author argues that Mother Teresa’s work was characterized by poor medical practices, a lack of transparency, and a neglect of the poor and suffering she claimed to serve.

* Examination of Mother Teresa’s beliefs: Hitchens critiques Mother Teresa’s extreme conservative views, including her opposition to birth control and support of suffering as a path to salvation.

* Examination of Mother Teresa’s motivations: The author questions Mother Teresa’s true motivations, suggesting that she was more interested in promoting her own image and advancing her conservative religious views than in actually helping the poor.

* Criticism of Mother Teresa’s canonization: Hitchens argues that Mother Teresa’s canonization as a saint by the Catholic Church was a political move designed to appeal to conservative religious voters, rather than a recognition of her actual virtues and accomplishments.

* Examination of Mother Teresa’s legacy: The book raises questions about the legacy of Mother Teresa, suggesting that her focus on suffering and her opposition to birth control may have done more harm than good in the long term.

* The book is a controversial and provocative critique of one of the most famous and revered figures of the 20th century.

Who is the author of The Missionary Position?

Christopher Eric Hitchens was a British-American author and journalist who wrote or edited over 30 books on culture, politics, and literature.

Book details

• Print length: 98 pages
• Genre: Nonfiction, Religion, Biography

What do critics say?

Here’s what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “A dirty job but someone had to do it. By the end of this elegantly written, brilliantly argued piece of polemic, it is not looking good for Mother Teresa.” — Sunday Times (London)

* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you’re interested in furthering your personal growth, you may want to explore my list of favorite self-improvement books. These books, which have had a significant impact on my life, are carefully curated and come with summaries and key lessons.

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an impact-driven creator at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 life goals around the globe. Tal's journey and recent book, The Art of Fully Living, inspired him to found Elevate Society.