The Missionary Position (book)

The Missionary Position (book). A 1995 polemical work by the Anglo-American author and journalist Christopher Hitchens, it presents a critical examination of the life and work of Mother Teresa, the Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of Charity. The book's central thesis is a direct challenge to her global reputation as a symbol of selfless charity, arguing instead that her mission was fundamentally dogmatic and politically aligned. Published by Verso Books, the short volume ignited significant controversy and debate regarding the nature of sainthood, media portrayal, and the ethics of humanitarian work.

Overview and thesis

Hitchens posits that the public image of Mother Teresa was a carefully managed "cult of suffering" propagated by the Vatican and a credulous Western media. He argues her primary motivation was not alleviating poverty but promoting a fundamentalist Catholic theology that glorified pain and opposed contraception, abortion, and divorce. The book scrutinizes her associations with dubious political figures, including the Duvalier dynasty in Haiti and the convicted financier Charles Keating, suggesting her moral authority was compromised. Hitchens contends that the Missionaries of Charity's facilities provided inadequate medical care, prioritizing spiritual conversion over genuine humanitarian relief, a claim supported by critical reports from figures like Robin Fox of The Lancet.

Critical reception

The book was met with polarized reactions, often split along lines of secularism versus religious devotion. Many in the atheist and secular humanist communities, such as those associated with Free Inquiry magazine, praised its unflinching critique. Conversely, it was condemned by numerous Catholic publications and admirers of Mother Teresa, who saw it as a vicious and unfair attack on a revered figure. Some mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times, acknowledged its provocative arguments while questioning its tone. The work cemented Hitchens's reputation as a formidable and controversial polemicist, following his earlier critiques of figures like Henry Kissinger.

Publication and impact

Published in 1995 by the left-wing Verso Books, the book's release was strategically timed amid the ongoing canonization process for Mother Teresa by the Holy See. It directly influenced the documentary Hell's Angel, which Hitchens co-wrote for the British television channel Channel 4. The arguments within the book were later cited during the Vatican's official beatification and canonization proceedings as the required "Devil's advocate" opposition. Its enduring impact is seen in the persistent public debate it fueled about the intersection of religion, media, and philanthropy, challenging the hagiography that often surrounds charitable icons.

Author's perspective and context

Christopher Hitchens wrote from a staunchly atheist and anti-theist perspective, viewing organized religion as a malign force. This work is part of his broader oeuvre critiquing religious figures, which includes his later bestseller God Is Not Great. His background as a Trotskyist-turned neoconservative commentator for publications like Vanity Fair and The Nation informed his sharp, rhetorical style and focus on political hypocrisy. The book reflects the intellectual climate of the 1990s, where figures like Salman Rushdie (a friend of Hitchens) were challenging religious orthodoxies, and secular criticism of Mother Teresa was gaining traction in outlets like The New Yorker.

Content and structure

The concise book is structured as a series of focused essays rather than a linear biography. It opens with an analysis of the "media myth" surrounding Mother Teresa, then details the conditions within her Calcutta hospices, citing accounts from volunteers and doctors. A chapter is devoted to her political engagements, including her acceptance of the Legion of Honour from Jean-Claude Duvalier and her intervention in the 1994 Irish divorce referendum. The final sections critique her theology of suffering and the financial practices of the Missionaries of Charity. Hitchens draws on a range of sources, from testimonies published in the British Medical Journal to the writings of critics like Aroup Chatterjee, a physician from Kolkata.