Role Model Review: The Values and Worldview of Mother Teresa
Introduction
This essay seeks to expound on the values and worldview of Mother Teresa, with regard to family, the nature of God, career as well as social issues. The essay compares and contrasts the authors personal views and experiences with those of Mother Teresa, the role model. It also attempts to explain why the role model should be emulated by all.
Throughout her lifetime, Mother Teresa,was always remembered and commended for her selfless service to humanity. Through her “Mission of Charity,’ Mother Teresa was able to connect and help many people in the world, as well as, serve as a true icon for others to emulate. Under her selfless leadership, the mission virtually made such an impact; that all countries in the world have played host to some of her charity work.
Mother Teresa was particularly touched by the plight of the poor, the sickly and the hopeless.Through her mission, she personally ministered to many individuals; visited those who were in need, as well as, helped to create homes for the poor and orphaned. Even in her death, her charity continues to spread the message of peace, love and unity (which she believed to be the key pillars for a prosperous and harmonious world).
Family issues
Mother Teresa’s world view revolved around service to mankind.She believed that man was made in the image of God. Therefore, she genuinely felt that by providing service to mankind, she wasproviding service to God. On that notation and genuine belief, she spent her entire life traversing the world preaching the message of love.MotherTeresa, believed that love for the world begins with love for the family.
In Mother Teresa’s speech (when she received the Nobel Peace Prize), she told the audience that the only way to maintain world peace was for each of the attendants to go home and love their family. Although Mother Teresa, by virtue of her religion never got married; her actions and activities reveal her deep seated values of the family institution. Her charity work all over the world has been very instrumental in maintaining the oneness of the family institution.
I strongly believe that charity begins at home. The love for others should begin with the love for ones’ family, since they are closest. This, therefore means that if each person loved their families, and showed love to all people in the world, then it's obvious that the world would be peaceful, just as envisioned by Mother Teresa.
Although Teresa valued and treasured the family institution, she herself never got married, most likely because of her Christian faith. This is in contrast with my personal world view. I believe that people should get married and have babies. In accordance with the Bible, in the book of Genesis, the Lord God commanded the first human creation, to go and multiply. In accordance with this commandment, it's my believe that people should get married and get children, which contrasts significantly with Mothers View.
Money/ Career
Mother Teresa was a career nun, and spent her entire life ministering to the people.She believed that everything that someone had or was blessed with, was vanity. This is because it did not utilized for the service of humanity. Mother Teresa could not understand why people would have more than they needed, when others were dying of lack.
The Catholic faith that Mother Teresa professed did not allow nuns to even earn a salary(and because of thisshe was never a rich person). She dedicated herself entirely to her lifetime commitment and genuine efforts to selflessly serve mankind (with no ulterior motive or propositions).
I agree with her, on the point that people should not possess more that they actually require, at the expense of the many poor people. Global statistics indicate that there is unreasonable inequity between the haves and the have-nots in the society that we live in.
However, most countries and economies are capitalist in nature, and this allows for people to own as much as they can be able to afford. Understandably, therefore, I do not find anything wrong with owning property, or even being wealthy, even in the face of poverty. This is because, socialism has been criticized for fostering laziness amongst the citizenry, since they hope to benefit from the free goodies that are availed in the view of Mother Teresa. This, is in sharp contrast to her views that we should share the little that we have.
Today, the Missions for Charity foundation is still present all over the world. It relies on entirely on donations from well-wishers for funding of their global and humanitarian efforts. It can therefore be said that,Mother Teresa was a successful in furthering her activities, and her convictions that all mankind is the same, and created in Gods same image. Therefore, man should use all what God has given freely, to freely serve the less fortunate, the poor, the sickly, and the orphaned.
Social Issues
As a catholic nun, Mother Teresa lived a life of piety and purity as was a requirement of her faith. She believed in a life of purity, as the Catholic faith demanded that nuns remained chaste all through their service.However, throughout her entire life, mother was always involved in helping in one way or another in the society.Through her Mission for Charity, Mother Teresa interacted with many people, and made many friends. Up to her death and sainthood, Mother Teresa is remembered for her contribution to the society.
In my unbiased opinion, I totally agree with Mother Teresa, on the fact that true Christians should emulate the life of Jesus Christ and attempt to live a life of purity and piety as is required in the Holy Bible. The Bible in the new testament exemplifies the life of Jesus Christ when he was in this world. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, gave hope to the hopeless among many other good deeds.
In a real world situation, however, it's quite difficult to manage to live the life of Jesus of Jesus Christ, in the present world, where there have been many changes in the social set up in the world that we live in. We have the social media and the internet that has significantly changed the way people live. These have therefore made it very difficult for people to live the lives of piety and religion that was lived by Mother Teresa.
This is in great contrast to the modern Catholic Church, which has been marred with a multiplicity of allegations. The church contrasts significantly with the worldview of Mother Teresa, in that most of the activities that are being witnessed in the church today leave a lot to be desired.
Recent media reports indicate that the papacy has been unable to deal with the rampant cases of child sexual abuse among the Catholic faithful. International media are also reporting that the actions taken by the catholic church globally, has not been deterred to the perpetrators of such vices, and the cases are on the increase.
The church seems to have lost the morals that are exemplified in the holy bible. People no longer love one another in the church. In fact, the average catholic is more concerned about amassing wealth, more than serving humankind, as is commanded in the holy Bible. This is in complete contrast to the work, actions of Mother Teresa(who would highly contempt such activities).
Nature of Gods
All throughout the bible, God is portrayed as a loving person, who cares for his people, and provides for them. God is the only hope that human-beings have, as his love is steadfast and endures forever. He revealed his love for his creation by sacrificing his only son, Jesus Christ to die for the sake our sins. In the New Testament, the bible talks about the love that God has for humanity. It furthermore describes in great details, the numerous acts God displayed his power through his son, Jesus Christ. All the acts portrayed are symbolic of the love that God has shown to human kind.
Most significantly, the bible talks about Love as being the greatest commandment of God. It explains that if we love one another, as we love our God, then the world will be free of all evils.
During her days on earth,Mother Teresa displayed an unconditional amount of love to mankind. This is because she believed that if she had to love God, then she had to Love mankind; and such love could only be shown through acts of kindness and mercy towards the less fortunate. Her Mission for Charity organization is a clear depiction of how she lived and the great love that she had for Gods people(Corsgrove,2006).
On a personal perspective, I agree with the teaching of the Bible as well as the world view of Mother Teresa with regard to the nature of God.I believe, just as the Bible says, that we are all made in the image of God, and therefore we should attempt to portray the image of God in our day to day activities.
On the contrary, there is little love for others in the world today. The activities that we witness in everyday life show a lifestyle that is devoid of the love that God commanded that we should show to one another.
If people followed the footsteps and teachings of Mother Teresa, then the world would be a great place to live in. No one would rise against one another, as well as, love and live harmoniously together. Then and only then the world would experience great peace. That is why I believe that everyone (including myself) would gladly emulate Mother Teresa.
References
BibleGateway (2013).The Holy Bible: New International Version. Retrieved February 15, 2013 from: http://www.biblegateway.com/
Bockmuehl, M. (2012).Hope and Optimism in Straitened Times. Pro Ecclesia Vol. Xxi, No. Ι.
Chambers Biographical Dictionary (2007). Jesus Christ.Retrieved February 15, 2013 from: http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3 A%2F%2 Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/chambbd/jesus_christ
Childress, K. (2012).Christianity after Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening.HarperOne, 304 PP.
Corsgrove, M.P. (2006) Foundations of Christian Thought: Faith, Learning, and the Christian Worldview.Kregel Publications.
Council for Secular Humanism (2013) The Affirmations of Humanism: A Statement of Principles. Retrieved February 15, 2013 from: http://www.secularhumanism.org/.php? section=main&page=affirmations
Granqvist,P. (2012).Introduction to the Special Issue: Advancements in the Study of Attachment and Religion/Spirituality.The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion.
Routledge. Knight (1998). The Necessity of God Incarnate,the International Journal For Philosophy of Religion.
Wedel, K. A (2012). Permission to Dissent: Civil Religion and the Radio Western, 1933-1960. Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation, Vol. 22, Issue 1, pp. 31-52
Wilkins, J. (2000). Love and Knowledge of God in the Human Life of Christ.University of St.Thomas.
...
