Liberation Theology of the Spectrum

Post Reply New Topic

For my Liberation Theology course I’m going to be applying the theology of liberation to the current self-advocacy movement in the autistic community (I myself am Aspergian). This will include finding the similarities between the self-advocacy movements and other liberation movements throughout history, and seeing where the theology itself would enrich the movement, and where the movement could enrich the theology.

What I would ask of the Austistic community on Wrong Planet is this:

1. Where have you felt ‘oppressed’ for your neurotype? Who do you feel is your oppressor?

2. When you hear the phrase ‘the liberation of the autistic community’, what do you envision? Is this something that you believe is necessary? Do you disagree with the need for it?

3. What are your experiences with the Judeo-Christian God (and if you have experience with it, the Catholic approach to God), the Church, or theology in general? Do you believe the theological views of neurotypicals applies to you?

4. What are specific sterotypes about the spectrum that you have had a specific encounter with? (Using examples not directed towards a larger thing such as Autism Speaks- I’m already going to be addressing that in the paper; examples that are SPECIFIC to YOU).

5. IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE SPECTRUM/ KNOW SOMEONE ON THE SPECTRUM- What do you think of when you hear the term ‘autistic’ or ‘asperger’s’? What do you assume when you hear ‘autism self-advocacy movement’? Do you think there is a need for a ‘liberation’ of the autistic community?

I would like to quote some of your answers in my paper, specifically in the presentation portion of the assignment, in order to really ‘fill’ out and make the paper real, rather than oversimplifying and generalizing. I don’t want to make my fellow autistics into numbers- I want to make this movement as real for them as it is for me. I will quote you only with permission, and I will use the name/moniker that you give me (most likely only the first or last name, unless you specify that you want your full name used). This will not be published. You may answer all the questions, or pick and choose ones that you are passionate about.

Reply here, or private message me your answers.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

What is liberation theology ?

A theology in which it is revealed the God aligns with the oppressed, rather than being indifferent. It takes a look at the ways in which God affirms the being of oppressed communities as well as encourages the freedom of said being (in situations where not only conventional freedom but internal freedom are repressed through systematic oppression).
There are good things and bad things about this theology, as with most theology honestly, but its just another way of intellectually applying God and the Bible in a constructive way.

It seems so counter nature and science that I struggle to comment...

Yet, I have an intricate and full understanding of karmic consequence, or what goes around comes around, or how the holy spirit or guardian angel protects over a supplicant.

Liberation theology at times seems arbitrary, as some injustices go unpunished, and the sufferers cry for justice that never comes?

Where is liberation for aspies?

Living apart seems the only viable option to liberate oneself from NT tyranny and discrimination.

However, the protection or liberation I receive from spirit, which I sometimes do, is always appreciated

Even as I wear my crown of thorns

Last edited by Surfman on 03 Nov 2011, 4:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

"Liberation Theology" is an oxymoron.

""Liberation Theology" is an oxymoron."

Only if we allow it to be. As a Catholic, I would like to see my faith reclaimed by the clergy and laypeople who subscribe to the God that I know loves and cherishes all people of all neurotypes, races, ethnicties, gender identities, sexualities and even all religions. And that's not going to happen if those who believe in it sit back and refuse to intellectually engage our own Catholic community in the language of that community- which is theology.

This challenge, to me, includes taking a look at the way that the Christian community both a) relates themselves to God and b) relates to each other (the first of which is a main component of any theology, the second of which I personally think should also be included in every theology). Theology is an ongoing process of faith and intellectual inquiry, not something that is set in stone or is necessarily implimented in society as yet (that would be praxis), but through dialogue within and without the Christian community CAN become a way of life for the faithful.

Though I would enjoy inserting a non-Christian view of the systematic oppression of autistics into the paper as well, if you would be so kind as to think through the questions from your perspetive. All of the questions listed in my first post are NOT exclusive to current believers- the first five are simply exclusive to the autistic community. You can take them from any viewpoint you wish, and I will include the answers in my research, whether the conclusion of that research be that liberation theology would be compatible or not enough for the autistic self-advocacy movement.

I'll give you answers to what you want, not that I agree with what you believe but just because I don't want to feel your time has been wasted.


1. Where have you felt ‘oppressed’ for your neurotype? Who do you feel is your oppressor?
Human nature's inability to comprehend a mind that is fundamentally different from itself when the person insists all sapience is derivative of human nature. This is essentially the issue of bigotry and lack of understanding between people who have simple aesthetic differences such as black skin or nictating eyelids brought to a whole new level. It's a concept that means that we don't prosper even when we should be able to.

2. When you hear the phrase ‘the liberation of the autistic community’, what do you envision? Is this something that you believe is necessary? Do you disagree with the need for it?
Liberation I guess in your sense is uplift to a righteous and fair standard of living. I think not being bullied at school, not being harassed by curists with vested interests and having a good employment rate by not being excluded would be nice.

3. What are your experiences with the Judeo-Christian God (and if you have experience with it, the Catholic approach to God), the Church, or theology in general? Do you believe the theological views of neurotypicals applies to you?
Generally no on the last part. I believe that religion is a series of customs without putting any negative spin on religion itself. Like anything it can be proven or disproven. However I don't generally just lay in to religious people when what they are doing isn't negatively affecting anyone even though I am an avowed atheist. To do so would be just bigotry.

4. What are specific sterotypes about the spectrum that you have had a specific encounter with? (Using examples not directed towards a larger thing such as Autism Speaks- I’m already going to be addressing that in the paper; examples that are SPECIFIC to YOU).
ret*d is the obvious example. A person who is just making excuses is another. Also people try to say that autism means I instantly am not capable of being right about something in social situations whether I am actually right or not.

Ok Im not familar with your specific demomination belief. With christians in general, my experiance has been, initially they'll be accepting of you. But if you dont change yourself to fit a particular mold, they'll become fustrated. I know christianity has a huge range believes that vary amongst demoninations but....

http://www.autism-in-the-christian-home ... heart.html

Shall I speak further??

So, no change there.

Lau- Asserting that there will be no change is as bad of a mentality as that of those who aren't changing. This about entering into a dialouge to affect change- and it has no place for those who resist it.
To Ai_Ling- Ouch. I've been seeing alot of that in some of the things I've been reading and its made me react pretty violently. It's a mentality that will most definately be addressed in the paper.

That would conflict with the book of Job, the four gospels, the letters to the churches, and Revelations (that's the short list). Jesus did not preach to overthrow the Romans, Paul did not fight to abolish slavery, Job did not complain to God about the Chaldean (pre-Babalonian) raiding party, and Isaiah and Revelations explain that God isn't going to make everything right, in this lifetime.

This thing about Paul not wanting to abolish slavery is simply not true. Even though Paul encouraged a slave to go back to his master the fact remains that after a period of 6 years a slave must be set free. The more accurate term for this work arrangement would be an apprenticeship. There is no way that Paul would have condoned slavery for life.

My belief, is that it's human nature to either embrace, reject, or ostracize someone who is "different" from the "herd". It's not just an Autism or Asperger's problem. Anyone who does not fit in to the mold of a group is subject to this. Religion is dominated by groups, expecting conformity. It's why, as a raised Lutheran, I no longer go to active services...I simply do not fit, even though I believe the same things they do in the same way they do. So for reasons which are NOT religious....I feel rejected. Maybe it's that I don't participate, or offer contrary opinions which the group rejects, or I don't observe the social conventions, or when the self-centeredness kicks in and I don't feel like hanging around after services to do some labor around the church....

1. Where have you felt ‘oppressed’ for your neurotype? Who do you feel is your oppressor?
at home mostly and my oppressors are my NT family. outside of the home it has been classmates and family "friends" at church or school, etc.

2. When you hear the phrase ‘the liberation of the autistic community’, what do you envision? Is this something that you believe is necessary? Do you disagree with the need for it?
yes itis necessary. liberation would involve the acceptance of neurodiversity, free health care, banning of vilification, effective measures taken against bullies, assistance finding/ maintaining jobs, if necessary training to help one get by in life, education of NTs on ASDs, self determination, no forced sterilisation, etc

3. What are your experiences with the Judeo-Christian God (and if you have experience with it, the Catholic approach to God), the Church, or theology in general? Do you believe the theological views of neurotypicals applies to you?
i used to be orthodox/roman catholic. i was reigious in the sense that i felt like i had a close connection with god and i like the roman catholic service structure. i was not a literalist and i did not follow the book to the letter, was not conservative and i didn't see the need to go to church every week or follow every ritual. god was always more of a friend than some dictator waiting to smite me and i suppose that view was the result of the teaching i got at my first primary school. we got told god would accept and forgive us no matter what as opposed to the you're going to hell for everything which is the jist of what i got told at the orthodox church. the church itself i have huge issues with. i have issues with the heirarchy and its conservative stance on many issues. abortion, same sex desire, masturbation, contraception, etc are all sins. wtf? and in the orthodox church i got all that and females cant go on the alter because they are unclean, cant have communion during their period, are pressured into covering their heads, all other religions including christian variants are illegitimate. cant be a preist anywhere. i have lots of issues with the church. they are not a force for social justice.

4. What are specific sterotypes about the spectrum that you have had a specific encounter with? (Using examples not directed towards a larger thing such as Autism Speaks- I’m already going to be addressing that in the paper; examples that are SPECIFIC to YOU).
that we are all socially neive. i have been told that i cannot be trusted to discern the benign from those with malicious intent, truth from fiction, good from bad, lack the ability to critique behaviour and events because of my AS. this also extends to personnal opinions i have on my own life like my decision to never marry. apparently that is because i have AS. sexism also comes into play here. my sister calls me a ret*d occaisionally. she thinks autism is an intellectual disorder. in part this is the fault of her education for teaching her this in PE and in part because of her parents attitude and in part because she is an idiot. i managed to teach my other sister that this was false at least. that i have any capacity to communicate has also come up and this has resulted in the lack of support from family when choosing jobs they deem inappropriate for an aspie. i really wanted to teach primary kids. adherance to routines/resistance to change being characteristic to aspergers is used to delegitimise any other oppinions/feelings i have. so are obsesive interests. apparently i only like anime because of that. anyone else my age who likes it is a pedo.

i hope that answers your questions and that this thing goes well for you. if it does would we be able to see it? its just that i find liberation theology really interesting and we learnt about it in highschool religion and ASDs are my current interest so this has piqued by curiosity...

Thank you guys for your input! This is really helpful and actually turned my original focus to a new one (I was originally planning on writing more on how current liberation theology could be successfully applied to the autistic community, but now I'm going to be writing from how such a theology is imperitive for the community because of the failure of the Church to be implicitly neurodiverse in their approach to the understanding and bringing in a community of God)

As a Buddhist, I would say that the goal is to liberate FROM theology. If you can remove dogma from your life, you are truly liberated. The world is an illusion built upon the desires and dogma of others. For Autistics, it is important to believe in yourself and not other's opinions/ideas of yourself. Normal is just another illusion…