The Missionary Position

The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice is a book by Christopher Hitchens about Mother Teresa's life and work. From the controversial title (a double entendre of a sex position and the missionary work of a celibate nun), the book criticizes Teresa as a political opportunist, who adopted the guise of a saint in order to raise money and spread an extreme religious ideology. Regarding his choice of the book's title, Hitchens ha... more

The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice is a book by Christopher Hitchens about Mother Teresa's life and work. From the controversial title (a double entendre of a sex position and the missionary work of a celibate nun), the book criticizes Teresa as a political opportunist, who adopted the guise of a saint in order to raise money and spread an extreme religious ideology. Regarding his choice of the book's title, Hitchens has said, "it was either that or Sacred Cow, and I thought Sacred Cow would be in bad taste." Hitchens condemns Teresa for having used contributions to open convents in 150 countries rather than establishing a teaching hospital, the latter being what he implies donors expected her to do with their gifts. He claims that Teresa was no "friend to the poor", but rather that she opposed structural measures to end poverty, particularly those that would raise the status of women. Hitchens portrays Mother Teresa's organization, the Missionaries of... less