I've been thinking a lot about how Christianity relates to Asperger's. Many on the spectrum see ASD as in opposition to Christianity because Christian Churches are perceived to be judgmental and encouraging of groupthink and dogma, which we are inherently opposed to.
But I believe that the Christian faith fits with ASD well. It stresses companionship and community, which we frequently lack. It reminds us that we are sinners, but we deserve love anyways as long as we love God and our neighbor back. It /should/ stress lack of judgement, gossip, etc, although these things do occur anyways, but ime at lower rates than in the secular population. It tells us that God loves each and every one of us so much that He would die for only us if He had to.
Even if we fall, we get back up again. And even if we sin, if we desire to love one another and repent, we are forgiven. It's so, so hard sometimes to get by when you keep resolving that you'll never make another faux paus, that you'll never accidentally offend anyone or make them uncomfortable again, and then do so without meaning to. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't try to get better. But the message of Christianity is that we deserve love and respect as long as we are genuinely trying. It also teaches us that God is not aloof and distant, but was made Man because He loved us so much. Basically, we are saved by faith and the Grace of God, which manifests as love, which manifests as works. But we do not judge others based on their works, because they are only judged for what is in their hearts.
I know that I have a good heart. I know that it is very, very hard sometimes for others to see it, or even for myself to see it. I know that I don't have the wisdom to always make it apparent. I know that I'll probably keep struggling and repenting for a long time, if not the rest of my life. But I've accepted that as a universal. All of my fellow Christians struggle like this in some way.
I was at a talk the other day with a Christian psychologist who told us that the key to mental health is accepting ambiguity. We have to know that we don't know. He even said that he doesn't tell his patients that things will get better, because they might get hit by a bus on their way back. They just have to live with ambiguity, struggling and getting back up again and trusting in God without worrying about what is going to happen in the future. (I also have OCD, so this was huge for me to hear.)
I don't know if this is all good and coherent. I just felt that the philosophy of Christianity of embracing ambiguity, paradox, and struggle instead of resisting it can be beneficial to Aspies and mental health if portrayed correctly.
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AQ: 36 (last I checked :p)