Published on 12, July, 2020
Is there anybody out there who feels they so much want to fit in with everyone else but struggles to at church. Does your church open and understand your autism. What can we do to change struggles we have in a busy church environment? Autism christian bible study groups etc? I am thinking at random. What are your thoughts and what are your struggles?
For me the hardest part was always when they tea abd coffee afterwards and I was always the one left out. This has happened in several different churches.
There's also the issue of institutional ableism. A lot of theology is based on the idea that humans are broken and God will fix them, but it also says that desease and siffering are a result of the Fall, and most Christians I know would include any kind of disability in this. Churches often see disabled people as something for God to fix. And then if they pray and you don't become miraculously healed then it's because you don't have enough faith, or the right kind of faith.
Honestly, if people believe prayer really works, why don't they spend more time praying for things that really matter like equal rights or fixing the state of the NHS.
Hmmm, yes I've had a Christian person or two get quite angry when I say I am grateful the Great Spirit created me autistic... the sensory burden is hard to bare, but otherwise, I like my autistim, so thanks, God! I'm grateful. They rather angrily think I should be praying for my deliverance or healing or something...healing from what? I'm not ill. It's such a shame that they can't see variety as a marvel of creation and we are all little reflections of different aspects of our creator whatever our neurology. It would be a bit boring if we were alike.
I am sorry you have had this experience. Some people get physically healed, but as you say autism is how we are.
You also mention about it being boring if we were all alike (sorry not worked out how to copy it). That is so true, we all have a part to play which is unique to us.