Who was the greatest Christian leader of the 20th Century?

[Hope]

Mother Teresa was a scam artist The vast majority of the some 50 million USD she collected did NOT go to the poor, and was instead placed in her organization's buildings. Half of her structures are actually nunneries. And have you been to her hospitals? I have seen Soviet gulags that have better medical wings. They are more like prisons- nobody is allowed to visit them- then actual hospitals.

But I could yell for days about how many people Mother Teresa has made suffer in order for them to become closer to Christ (She actually believed this).

Have you been to her hospitals?? And where did you get such wild information?

 

[Smoke]

I also vote for Richard Wurmbrand, the Romanian who founded Voice of the Martyrs, an organization that ministers to persecuted Christians around the world. I read his story Tortured for Christ many years ago, and it had a profound impact upon me.

I had nearly forgotten about him. When I was in high school I subscribed to his newsletter and read several of his books. Tortured for Christ was better than Was Karl Marx a Satanist?

Have you been to her hospitals?? And where did you get such wild information?

It's not wild at all. Mother Theresa's ideas about "helping" the poor are well documented. She hoarded vast sums of money while glorying in the poverty and suffering of her sisters and their charges. She was one of those old-time Catholics who believed that all suffering is redemptive if you "offer it up."

 

[yossarian22]

Have you been to her hospitals?? And where did you get such wild information?

Have you been to one? Hell, even if this hospital is the exception and not the rule, the gulags were better places to be sick.
Just looking at one made me feel like I needed a tetanus shot.

 

[anders]

I don't remember anything great about the popes. I don't label Mother Theresa a leader, and there are questions to be answered on her work. Of the other names, the only one I recognize is M.L. King, so that's the one I voted for. I don't remember having seen any "Jr.", though.

 

[Smoke]

I don't remember anything great about the popes. I don't label Mother Theresa a leader, and there are questions to be answered on her work. Of the other names, the only one I recognize is M.L. King, so that's the one I voted for. I don't remember having seen any "Jr.", though.

His father, MLK Sr., was also a Baptist preacher, and survived the great civil rights leader by sixteen years.

 

[Joe_Stocks]

I think MLK Jr. was a bit overrated.

I think Pope John Paul II was the greatest Christian leader in the 20th century hands down.

 

[Pardus]

The smart arse in me wants to vote fred phelps, but i have to vote MT, the amount of attention Di got in comparison to her really annoys me.

 

[madhatter85]

I think MLK was also overrated, there were many before him and durign his time that also pushed for equal rights, he was just the most outspoken about it.

I chose David O. Mckay because one of his talks he gave helped me out so much in my life.

 

[jonny]

I was trying to represent a variety of traditions, and I selected McKay as one of the most influential Mormons of the century. Could have just as easily been Spencer Kimball, though.

I'm reading David O McKay's biography - David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism right now and I didn't realize how much he changed the LDS Church. Many of the things that he did as Prophet are still having a significant impact on the church today. After reading more about him in this book, I've got to agree with you.

Anyone who wants to read a great book on the LDS Church in the 20th Century should pick this one up: David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism

 

[PureX]

There definitely have been some outstanding Christians in the 20th century. I agree with those who suggested Desmond Tutu. He is most definitely an outstanding Christian. I would also have liked to see perhaps Thomas Merton and Bishop Spong on the list. But in the end, if I have to choose one, it's between Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King. Both are real and true exemplifications of Christ on Earth.

I choose .... MLK .... because I believe that even though he was fighting for the freedom of African Americans in his place and time, we can all listen to his words, and read of his deeds, and know that he was speaking and fighting for the freedom and dignity of all human beings. I am still truly moved by his words - moved to place my hope and faith in humanity, and in God, that one day we really will rise above ourselves, and live in freedom and justice for all.

Song for MLK

 

[Ozzie]

I buggered the poll. I wanted to vote JP2. The only reason I would not vote MT is that I don't think she considered herself a leader, while he definitely was an influential leader on the world stage.

 

[lilithu]

Mother Theresa is my choice hands down. She was a true Christian and, unlike MLK, worked tirelessly to help ALL people around the world not just one segment of one society.

I'm not sure where you get that Dr. King was only interested in helping one segment of society. He was interested in JUSTICE. When he started speaking against the Vietnam war because of its injustice, even some of his allies asked him why he didn't just stick with civil rights for black folks. And his answer was that he couldn't limit himself to just one cause because "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Some believe that it was because he spoke against the Vietnam war that he was assassinated, that as long as he was perceived as only advocating for "his kind" that he was allowed to speak, but when he spoke about different injustices as linked together he became too dangerous to tolerate.

And Mother Theresa did not work to help "ALL people around the world." She worked to help the poorest of the POOR in India, because she knew that you don't help concepts such as "ALL people around the world"; you help real people who are in need. And for that she has my deepest respect.

 

[Scott1]

Although he did not start Vatican II, it fell on this holy man to implement what I consider the greatest/most drastic changes in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church.... so I chose:

[SIZE=+1]POPE PAUL VI[/SIZE]
Giovanni Battista Montini
[SIZE=+1]1963-1978[/SIZE]

Biography/Writings

 

[lilithu]

I buggered the poll. I wanted to vote JP2. The only reason I would not vote MT is that I don't think she considered herself a leader, while he definitely was an influential leader on the world stage.

Ozzie, read up a little bit on the guy you accidentally voted for (especially with respect to Vatican II) and you may find that it wasn't an accident after all. If I did not vote for Dr. King, I would have voted for Pope John XXIII, for he was a man of great vision and compassion and his actions have made a huge difference in the lives of millions. I just couldn't not vote for Dr. King.

 

[lilithu]

And why?

I agree with Luna and Sunstone that Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Archbishop Desmond Tutu should have been included. And what about Oscar Romero??! But frubals for including James Cone!

 

[Joe_Stocks]

HI lilithu,

I'm not sure where you get that Dr. King was only interested in helping one segment of society. He was interested in JUSTICE. When he started speaking against the Vietnam war because of its injustice, even some of his allies asked him why he didn't just stick with civil rights for black folks. And his answer was that he couldn't limit himself to just one cause because "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Some believe that it was because he spoke against the Vietnam war that he was assassinated, that as long as he was perceived as only advocating for "his kind" that he was allowed to speak, but when he spoke about different injustices as linked together he became too dangerous to tolerate.

Actually, MLK Jr. wanted a giant government program designed just to help blacks. He also had socialist leanings.

 

[PureX]

Actually, MLK Jr. wanted a giant government program designed just to help blacks. He also had socialist leanings.

You say that, "he also had socialist leanings" as though that were a bad thing!

 

[rocka21]

Dr. Oral Roberts,

founded ORU, started one of the greatest revivals in the church.

Many churches have been birth from his ministry. and preachers. He has influenced mostly ALL of the current non-denominational preacher out there- from Osteen, Fred price, Dollar, Haggen, Copeland, and my pastor, Hallam, just to name a few.

i know his name don't make list like this, but if you look at some of the most fastest and largest growing churches today, its because of men like this! AMEN!

 

[Joe_Stocks]

Hi Pure,

You say that, "he also had socialist leanings" as though that were a bad thing!

It certainly is. Socialist countries less free than capitalist countries. And socialist countries are poorer than capitalist countries. If MLK Jr. cared about the general welfare of all of God's children he was leaning towards the wrong system.

 

[lilithu]

Actually, MLK Jr. wanted a giant government program designed just to help blacks.

He wanted social JUSTICE, as do I.