The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice

Christopher Hitchens presents a polemical investigation into the public image and private actions of Agnes Bojaxhiu, known globally as Mother Teresa. He argues that her mission in Calcutta functioned less as a humanitarian effort and more as a campaign of religious fundamentalism that prioritized suffering over medical care. The text documents the substandard hygienic conditions of her clinics, her acceptance of financial donations from dictators like Jean-Claude Duvalier, and her political efforts to oppose contraception and abortion even in impoverished regions.

Readers interested in investigative journalism and secular philosophy turn to this work to examine the intersection of celebrity cults and organized religion. It appeals to those who question established cultural icons and seek a counter-narrative to hagiography. A reader finishes the book with a technical understanding of how media narratives are constructed and a critical framework for evaluating the ethics of charitable institutions. It provides a historical record of the discrepancies between a public reputation for mercy and the theological promotion of pain.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; a moderate read.

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