Comments on: Coming soon to an envelope near you: Mother Teresa

By: Zackary Mech

Zackary Mech — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:32:05 +0000

interesting article I have just added you to my rss reader. Keep up the good work!

By: KC

KC — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:05:15 +0000

I wasn’t offended when the USPS came out with the Muslim EID religious holiday to be put on a stamp. I am not sure how the USPS justifies rule #9. They are not directly promoting religion by making stamps with a historical figure like Mother T any more than them promoting rock and roll over rap when they put Elvis on a stamp. To say so is a bit contradictory.

They would then have to justify using a stamp for an atheist like Mark Twain is more rational than putting John Calvin’s face on a stamp.

By: Joe McDaniel

Joe McDaniel — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:54:58 +0000

Mother Teresa, in my humble opinion, would just as soon be dipped in a slopjar full of skunkjuice, than to have her beautiful image BLASPHEMED by the Loony-Tune Idiots of the us postal skirmish.

By: Sharron Branco

Sharron Branco — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:54:51 +0000

Would she fit under the title of Nobel Peace Prize winners?
She was also the Leader of Missionaries of Charity, Calcutta.
Also from wikipedia: Missionary: one undertaking a mission.
An assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise c (1) : a mission establishment
3 : a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity: as a : a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations b : a permanent embassy or legation c : a team of specialists or cultural leaders sent to a foreign country.

By: Caleb Powers

Caleb Powers — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:03:23 +0000

I agree about my list being too narrow, and you’re right that I missed the whole Methodist movement.

I also like including non-Christian religions. Does anyone have a good picture of the Great Spirit? How about the Great Pumpkin?

I thought about the Great Spirit when I saw some of the Native American warriors and chiefs on the list; I suspect some of them were also medicine men.

By: José

José — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:03:37 +0000

Caleb, your list is limited to Roman Catholics and televangelists. Let’s branch out a bit.

Methodists were much involved in the spread of Christianity throughout the US in the 19th century so let’s acknowledge John Wesley (who was briefly a missionary in colonial Georgia) and the first two Methodist bishops, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury.

For American theologians we can honor both Niebuhr brothers. Internationally, I would suggest the Dalai Lama and Dietrich Bonhoffer, plus any number of modern and historical theologians. If the Catholic bishops don’t object too much, it would be interesting to name the leaders of the Reformation– Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli (but we can do without Henry VIII).

The USPS has already graced Christianity with stamps featuring both Jesus and his mom. What about other religions? Buddha, Hillel, Joseph Smith. (Muhammad is out since most modern Muslims consider it sacrilegious to display images of the Prophet.) Alas, Hinduism has far too many deities so we would have to pick a few major ones. As a nod to the Native Americans, maybe we can honor the Great Spirit.

By: Caleb Powers

Caleb Powers — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:20:46 +0000

Although I tend to have a more sanguine view of Mother Teresa than most people, tending to follow Christopher Hitchens’ rather scathing commentary on her, but even I think that it would be strange that we can put Walt Disney on a postage stamp (1968), but not Mother Teresa.

Of course, stamps now tend to come in groups: They’ll honor famous jazz musicians or movie stars and the like. Maybe we could have a series on religious figures. Who would you put on it? Billy Graham? Rex Humbard? Oral Roberts? Bishop Sheen? Pope John Paul II? Pope John XIII?

By: Julian Malakar

Julian Malakar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:11:50 +0000

Mother Teresa “friend of world destitute” violated section 9. Her goal to serve Jesus Christ by serving the needy of community is associated with her religious believe. But section 9 over looked the basic principle of humanity that human builds godly Church as well as community. Based on principle of serving humanity irrespective of race, color and creed, Mother Teresa deserves this honor if any one have little sympathy for humanity. Section 9 should be modified.

By: José

José — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:16:08 +0000

Wikipedia, of course. Thanks, Caleb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_on_stamps_of_the_United_States

Did you notice these two? It’s safe to say that they are recognized for their religious activities:
- Jesus (1966) Christianity founder
- Mary (The Madonna) (1966) Central figure in Christianity

Another saint is:
- Junipero Serra (1985) Franciscan mission founder

Another religious leader known for civil rights is:
- Malcolm X (1999) Civil rights advocate

By: Caleb Powers

Caleb Powers — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:20:55 +0000

I don’t think MLK would fall into the category of someone whose primary fame came from religious work; I know that he was a minister and that his faith informed and enlivened his civil rights activities, but he is primarily known as a civil rights leader rather than a religious leader.

Desmond Tutu might be in the same category, though he is certainly known more as a religious figure than King; however, he has never appeared on a stamp.

In glancing through Wikipedia’s list of people appearing on postage stamps, the only professional clergymen I see are Fr. Flanagan, of Boys’ Town, who is listed as an “orphan advocate” rather than as a priest, and the four chaplains who famously gave up their places in lifeboats for others during the sinking of the Dorchester during WWII.

I wonder, though, how they justified putting St. Francis of Assisi on a 1982 stamp; he’s the only saint I see on the list.

By: José

José — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:41:14 +0000

Interesting question. And Frank is probably right about how Mother Teresa would describe herself and her actions. But the interests of church and state need not be opposed, and people of many faiths can applaud Teresa’s ministry to the poor. Her work clearly served humanitarian interests, and it’s not like she closed the door to anyone who wasn’t Catholic.

I wonder if the Postal Service has recognized other religious figures in this way? Martin Luther King, Jr.? Desmond Tutu?