To Think or To Obey?

Last updated on: September 22, 2011 at 10:09 am by Christy Thomas

To Think or To Obey? 2011-09-22T10:09:41-05:00 Christy Thomas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To think or to obey?That appeared to be the dilemma that Mary Johnson ultimately faced in her desire to live her life as an MC, or member of the Missionaries of Charity, the Roman Catholic order founded by Mother Teresa to work in ministry with the poorest of the poor of the world.

Late last week I began to read Unquenchable Thirst, Mary Johnson’s fascinating memoir of her experience as an MC, and the internal dissonance that finally led her to request to be released from her vows after 20 years as an MC Sister. Once I started the book, I couldn’t put it down.

Johnson’s writing reflects this reality: no matter how beautiful and powerful the original idea that spurs a group to make it happen, any growing movement will eventually spawn those who love power for power’s sake. Corruption of original intent inevitably results.

Johnson, a highly intelligent but socially awkward 19 year old Texan, leaves behind what will certainly be a promising career in some educational field (she was exceptionally gifted with children and with music) and heads to the worst of the Bronx in New York City to enter the life of austerity, discipline and service. Here she was shaped, judged, taught, and evaluated at every turn by her superiors in the MC hierarchy to see if she would ultimately be given the privilege of taking her final vows. Of her group of twelve that entered together, only two survived the first six months.

Despite the challenges, Sister Donata, her name in religion, moved quickly up the ranks of leadership positions. After taking her final vows, she was given the privilege of attending the Regina Mundi in Rome, Italy, now closed, but at the time the only center of higher learning available to women in religious orders.

There, under the caring and expert tutelage of the faculty, Sister Donata, able for the first time since entering the order to make use of her academic gifts, began to exercise that good mind of hers.

It went downhill for her. Eventually, charges of heresy stemming from MC superiors were leveled at the priest on the faculty who had influenced her the most. Sister Donata ultimately faced this dilemma: either continue to keep silent about power abuses and theological challenges (and keeping silent was her only option as a fully professed sister in the order) or request a dispensation from her vows and leave the order. Heartbreaking, for her passion never left her–a desire to be in ministry with and to serve the poor and destitute.

As I read her story, I kept seeing my own, and I ached with her. Like Mary Johnson, I have never wanted to do anything else except serve God. And I also entered a theological world where independent thought was not considered a virtue, particularly on the part of a woman who questioned some cherished precepts about God’s intention for women in church ministry. To stay meant I had to stifle my questions forever–and I couldn’t do that and still maintain personal integrity.

What soul agony! To have to leave a world one loves and wants to serve in order to be faithful to one’s self.

This is what scares me about any highly hierarchical religious organization–or any group that indicates that only the person at the top,or his or her chosen successors, has sole access to revealed truth. What if their interpretations are colored by their own prejudices and experiences just as I was told mine were? What if the need to hold power becomes greater than the need for spiritual and intellectual integrity?

Unaccountable power always corrupts, and it is no different in the religious world than any other.

Christianity

religion

heresy charges

Missionaries of Charity

Mother Teresa

think or obey?

Unquenchable Thirst

Previous Post

September 6, 2011

Memories and the Hope of Healing

Next Post

September 22, 2011 Pure Evil

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category " obedience abortion accommodation accountability administration adolescence Advent advice an ordinary death anxiety apology apportionments Ash Wednesday ask thoughtfulpastor baptism betrayal Bible bondage calling certainty change character charity children Christianity Christmas church church as garden clergy clergy credentials closure comfort compassion competition compromise Confirmation conservation conservative conspiracy theories consumer conversion coronavirua corruption courage covenant cultural context death Deconstruction discipleship discord divorce doctrine doing good drugs dysfunctional Easter Easter; Resurrection education election entertainment envy escape evaluation evil exclusive church exercise faith faithfulness family fasting fear feast featured film review finances first world problem food forgiveness fundamentalist garden gay marriage General Conference generosity giving thanks GLBT glory good government grace guilt habit happy harmony hateful acts healing health health care heaven hell hello/goodbye heresy hidden agenda holiness homelessness homosexuality humility hymn hypocrisy Imago Dei In training inclusive church indulgence injustice innocents insurance intolerance itinerancy joy Justice kindness Kingdom of Heave kingdom of heaven language laughter laundry lawsuit leadership Lent LGBTQ liberal life Little Things Matter longform meandering thoughts memories mercy metaphor metrics miracle misfortunes morality Mormon Muslim mystery worship natural disasters New Category Name nutrients older adults oppression pain Paleo paperwork partnered pastor peace pension pharmaceutical placebo politics poverty prayer privilege public schools questions quiet racism rain reason reconciliation religion repentance requirements rescue respect rest resurrection retirement Sabbath sacrament sacred salvation same-sex marriage sanctuary schism schooling science SCOTUS secrecy separation of church and state sexism sexuality short cuts silence sin sleep soil spiritual journey stillness suffering surgery sustainable church teacher technology thank you theology therapy thinking tolerance TOS trust truth Uncategorized welcome Why Easter? wisdom women worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 October 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz