Religion Eiesland Summary

Disability is a definition of a physical or mental condition which impacts on a person’s movements, activities and senses. People with disabilities were informed of bias and disadvantages compared to an ordinary person. There are many biases and prejudices contributed to the discrimination of individuals with a disability. Partly because of social connotations the disabled people are useless, cannot work. In fact, these extraordinary people always bring and do incredible things. They not only overcome their grim fate, but also bring good things to life, especially those who are perfectly considering better than an ordinary person, they are not aware of the capacity of individuals disabilities with them characteristics such as loyalty, dedication, and hard work.

After watching the documentary “The Walk” with Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor that we watched in class together as a whole. It made me wonder about how Taylor put the idea of being handicapped as a political meaning, rather than just a social or medical way of living. In the documentary, the two women talk about the vast ways that handicapped people face today in the world. Throughout the semester we have learned how not just handicapped people like Taylor a person with a physical impairment are treated differently but also women, and people of ethnic minorities have been and are treated differently like her because of who or what they are.

Caritas shows this quality as they believe that disability is both a consequence and cause of poverty. They ensure that all the development programs are accessible to people with disabilities. Caritas also work towards funding specifically to people with disabilities to empower them to develop their decision making helping them become more normal.

It is all about looking at life from a different perspective. In a blog post written by the Huffington Post, the author of the blog disputes the social stereotype of having a disability as negative when writing, “...people with disabilities can do some things that nondisabled people cannot do, bringing their experience and focus to key aspects of a task.” The importance is to see the word “ability” in disability. In Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, The Poisonwood Bible, the character Adah Price is affected by the condition Hemiplegia - “a type of Cerebral Palsy that results from damage to the part (hemisphere) of the brain that controls muscle movements” (“What”). Adah uses her disability as a strength rather than a weakness which is defined through

Those with disabilities have to accept their lives as being deprived of some joyful instances that may never happen. Individuals with handicaps may not be able to be active with their (or other’s) children, dream jobs may not be within grasp, memories may not be accessible while other’s take them for granted and shun those who desire that which they’ve already acquired (“People With Disabilities”). Provided, life is hard with a disability but additionally, those with handicaps must suffer isolation which is unfavorable in multiple ways. With isolation the person has no help, no support, no companionship, and feel ultimately rejected shutting them down in a social manner (“People With Disabilities”).

Secularism is the indifference to or rejection of formal religion. The most secular countries today are in Europe. Secularism has become more widespread during the past century due to the rise in democracy. Democratic governments disadvantage the traditional practices of a religion because they offer freedom, whereas other forms of government may force it's population to practice a specific religion. For example, the predominance of Islam in the Middle East can be associated with the influence of Taliban, a militant movement in the area that enforces the Islamic religion.

Stella Young has lived with a disability all of her life, but has never let that stand in her way. While speaking at a TED conference in 2014 Young wanted to address an issue that most individuals overlook. This issue is about people with disabilities and the struggle they face every day to feel equal and part of a social norm. Stella speaks from experience and tries to make her audience see a new perspective of how individuals look at others with disabilities. Stella makes it clear that most individuals see people with disabilities as an inspiration which is widely propagated. In order for her audience to understand this view she shows a series of images to appeal both to logos and pathos. Stella wanted to show that we view these images logically

Disability: When it comes to disabilities, causation, health and health care in the African American community, much of their beliefs around receiving treatment piggybacks on their values and beliefs in religion and spirituality, including traditional health practices such as healers and “Root doctors” (Goode, Jones, Jackson 168), as well as believing in karma, folk tales, faith and destiny. While some African American community members may see a child being born with a disability to be a blessing, representing the family’s emotional strength, as well as being a blessing from god for the child is seen as special, many others view a child having a disability as an evil act or a punishment from God, or other higher beings, for family sins (Goode, Jones, Jackson 170). Many African Americans also embrace the scientific, medical and genetic explanation of disabilities. However, depending on the various beliefs causing disabilities in the community, different actions are taken in order to “treat” the child. While their is no scientific cure for some disabilities, many African Americans may turn to indigenous practices such as calling upon root doctors to break spells and release the body and mind from any evil, or trying natural herbal remedies. Furthermore, many religious African American’s turn to God to heal their child. It was interesting that the chapter highlighted that while religious beliefs and practices have been “associated with lower suicide rates; less anxiety,

The overarching topic of the book is focused on creating a new future about the concept of disability and disabled bodies. The overarching argument of the book is the idea that “disability is often seen as a future that no one wants. Furthermore, Kafer writes this book to bring a new definition of disability focusing on the political experiences of this concept. Throughout the chapters of the book, Kafer incorporates a variety of social issues that are analyzed using different theoretical principles. Some of these theoretical principles include crip theory, queer theory, and disability studies. In many chapters of the book, Kafer cites herself when she talks about her experiences as a disabled person.

In Madeline Burghardt’s article, she describes a common critique of L’Arche by disability scholars. Namely, that L’arche does not sufficiently address “broader policy and human rights concerns” (Burghardt, XXVIII). Instead of taking a stake in political systems, L’Arche emphasizes changing the world through small things with extraordinary love, mutual relationships, and interdependence. On the one hand, L’Arche never claimed to be a site of activism in the typical way. Yet, now that they have grown in prominence, is this a responsibility that comes with their visibility? Expanding this idea out practically to churches and religious communities, I have seen churches who do have a “disabilities ministry” be content with developing relationships.

Hick challenges theologians to transform Christian Religion to address effectively the modern world, which is now undoubtedly pluralistic. He both criticizes what he considers outmoded Christian in light of recent developments in religious epistemology, while simultaneously suggesting new possibilities for the enrichment of Christian experience as religious experience. While some of these suggestions are certainly open to debate, it is nonetheless certain that Hick, like Columbus, has discovered the "new world"—a new pluralistic world—which all future theology must take into account (although it is clear that, despite this recent discovery, the Indians—though this time the real Indians—have long since beaten us here as well). In light of his

Contemporary Catholic philosopher Jean Vanier has done a substantial amount of work with people with mental disabilities. Though Nietzsche would no doubt challenge the basis of his philosophy, that being his belief in God, Vanier’s work is congruent with Medina’s work on the function of empathy. Differing from Nietzsche’s conception of Christian pity, Vanier states, “the question is not what society can do for people with mental disabilities […] but what can people with mental disabilities do for society” (Vanier, 1:00). Vanier argues that society has developed in such a way where those with particular sets of skills are favoured by society. As a result, those who do not or cannot participate in this way (i.e. people with mental disabilities)

Religious people are not only taking the bible literally but are misinterpreting it and as we discussed in class, do not take the time to ponder the bible passages to determine if the practices are suitable for or will harm today’s society. The one thing I learned from this chapter is that I never thought of Jesus to be disabled even though he actually is. I really like that she says we need to view Jesus from different viewpoints. My favorite line from this chapter is “Jesus Christ the disabled God, is consonant with the image of Jesus Christ the stigmatized Jew, person of color, and representative of the poor and hungry” (pg. 312). When we view Jesus from these multiple viewpoints, we can feel even more loved and accepted knowing that He relates to all of us and knows exactly how we feel when we are faced with

​Generally individuals with special needs continue to be the most disadvantaged and neglected in third-world countries (Charema, 2007). This paper is concerned with the moral necessity and biblical mandate of providing special education programs in Christian schools in third-world countries when society in those countries does not recognize or value people with special needs.

Faith in God is one of the most important qualities to have as a human being. God has put each and every one of us on this earth for a reason. We may not all know what the reason is, especially if we experienced a tragic event. There are many people who have strokes, heart attacks, cerebral palsy, brain aneurysms, and more, and not many people know why that event has to happen to them and at the time it did. But there is one person who does know, and that is God the father almighty. God has all of our lives planned out and has given a meaning for everything that happens in our lives. When people go through life with a disability, they will be going to occupational therapy sessions. At therapy is when they may open up about their faith and want to know why everything has happened like it did, they will want to know that God is still with them, and that God has a plan for them to progress so they can return to their normal lives. When I become a therapist, I will already have hours and hours of fieldwork that will help me in this aspect. I will be able to witness other therapists explaining the way of God to others, so I will be prepared, and know how to go about the subject when it comes up in a therapy session.