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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Psychology of Religion Module EXPLORATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY: The Exemplary Religious Life and Advanced Religious Thought of Mother Teresa Occasionally someone progresses to a stage of religious thought that serves as a superior example for others. One such example of highly developed religiousness is Mother Teresa (1910–1997) of Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, in Albania.

She became a Roman Catholic nun and founded the Missionaries of Charity after having entered the order of the Sisters of our Lady of Loreto at the age of 18 while in Ireland. After taking her vows in 1937, she served in Calcutta in a Roman Catholic high school. While in Calcutta, she became grieved by the extensive sickness and dying of people on the city’s streets. She began to minister to these impoverished people and opened a home for them in 1952.

Though Mother Teresa died in 1997, her home and ministry continue today, on five continents. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Why is Mother Teresa’s religious thinking considered to be at such an advanced level? Religion and Spirituality in Older Adults In many societies around the world, the elderly are the spiritual leaders in their churches and communities.

For example, in the Catholic church, more popes have been elected in their eighties than in any other 10-year period of the human life span. The religious patterns of older adults have been increasingly studied (Kimble & others, 1995; Levin, 1994).

In one analysis, both older African Americans and older Whites showed reasonably high levels of religiousness, attended religious services several times a month, said religion was important in their lives, read religious materials, listened to religious programs, and prayed frequently (Levin, Taylor, & Chatters, 1994). Also, in this analysis, older women had stronger interest in religion than did older men.

When the significance of religion in people’s lives has been assessed, individuals over 65 years of age are more likely than younger people to say that religious faith is the most significant influence in their lives, that they try to put religious faith into practice, and that they go to church (Gallup, 1988). In this survey, adults in old age were more likely than younger adults to have a strong interest in spirituality and to pray.