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Being autistic and Christian

Billy87

I just wanted to start a thread to see what the experiences of any other autistic Christians are? As an autistic person who didn't know I was autistic until later life I have had an up and down relationship with my faith over the years. I have had some very bad experiences in church too, I know a lot of autistic people struggle with church for many reasons too.

Im not trying to convert or preach to anyone and I appreciate a lot of people on here aren't religious or anything but it would be really interesting and comforting to hear any experiences of fellow autistic Christians 

  • I too didn't realize I was autistic until later in life. The thing I find hard is going into church on my own and deciding where to sit. Church is a social place. I am ok talking to individuals I know but find speaking to those I don't know difficult. I enjoy singing with others but have found it hard to move from watching online to going physically, so just go occasionally when I don't feel too overstimulated or exhausted by the previous week. Sometimes it is easier being Christian without the socializing.

    Love to know of any positive experiences of churches making adjustments for autistic people.

  • I'm just glad I'm not the only one left yet. 

  • There's a professor who's doing a lot of work to try and reconcile the church with a better understanding of Autism https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sdhp/divinity-religious-studies/profiles/grant.macaskill#publications I've listened to a few lectures. He's autistic himself and has some really profound things to say.

    There's also an ADHD author/professor from Princeton/Yale who has written quite a lot on the church and topics most usually don't know how to approach and I think his perspective is aligned with Autistic thinking https://reknew.org 

    I believe there is a lot of wisdom found in Jewish teachings as well which easily bridge the social gaps between Autism and NeuroNormative thinking. 

  • What an interesting question!

    I was baptised Catholic, but went to a Methodist Church as a kid...I always felt the presence of God and found acceptance within the church. I did not know I was autistic until I was 56. As a kid, the church in one way or another.. Brownies, Sunday school, church nature walks, social evenings, provided for my social life. I needed structure, not free play, to socialise.  For that I am grateful.

    Theologically though, when I hit my teens, for all I still felt God, little Aspie brain could not deal with the logic of the creed. Mahatma Ghandi - not Christain therefore eternally damned despite the deeds of his immense soul; Hitler if confessing Christ as his saviour, despite the blood of so many on his hands- at God's right hand. Nop! Couldn't buy it. God couldn't possibly be so illogical.

    In my 30s, I found Spiritualism and reconciled my own psychic experience, love of the Devine and humanity and understanding of other. All paths lead to God and I care not about your creed so long as it gets you where you need to go spiritually. The Spiritualist church too has always been respecting of my differences, though still I did not know I was autistic. And Spiritualist hands on healing has always helped my anxieties when little else could. The Great Spirit knows my need, even when humans don't.

    I respect the Christians of my youth, though I have found the path right for me now. As for my autism; the day I was diagnosed, I danced. I danced in gratitude to the NAS who diagnosed me, to my granddad who gave me autistic genes, and to the Great Spirit who created me exactly as I am.

    My best mate, I met 30 years ago when she was a copper, now she is an Anglican vicar...she sees purpose in God's design for me, for the next phase of my life, now that I know about my autism. I'm undergoing some challenges at the moment, but you know what? Some how I am going to come through and I sense convert the challenges to the service of others, and therefore the Great Spirit. My life matters now only in as much as I can use the autistic gifts the Great Spirit gave me beyond myself.