is christianity a religion for neurotypicals?

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I know I tend to generalize. I know that all Christians or Catholics are not that way. It just seems in this forum that one has to really sanitize and break comments down to base phonetics in order to be understood and stay out of trouble. Too many literal minded people amongst us Aspies, myself included.

My experience with believers is that, generally speaking, the only time they place any hope in science is when they, or someone they care about is on the precipice of life and death. Other times believer will use medicines being completely unaware that the process which makes antibiotics effective, by understanding through scientific process how that medicine is going to interact with body chemistry over a period of time is based on the same science that proves the age of the earth is inconsistent with biblical teachings.

Even the most out in left field Theologians are coming around to the viewpoint that believers have got to adjust their understanding of the age of Earth because evidence so consistently proves that what the bible says about this is incorrect. Young earth Creationist theory and fabricated "science" aside.

Is German a religion now too? Maybe I'll convert to Germanyism, I hear they have good beer.

Don't forget the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.

Churches help people who lose their jobs. With so many unemployed ASD people it may be for them too.

People in general are ignorant. The fact of the matter is that there is a rich philosophical tradition in Christianity and there are countless works out there to tickle our autistic brains.



I would suggest to you that those folks are a terrible example of their group.

I'm born and raised a Christian of the Lutheran faith, and it's always suited me, even if I sometimes argue with church members about gay rights and evolution.

I'm born and raised a Christian of the Lutheran faith, and it's always suited me, even if I sometimes argue with church members about gay rights and evolution.

Protestantism, yes. Traditional Roman Catholicism, not so much. Traditional Eastern Orthodoxy definitely not exclusively for neurotypicals. Apart from long, elaborate rituals and liturgical cycles (strict routines with variable bits), the Eastern Orthodox have a well-sized subset of saints called 'fools for Christ', both ancient and modern, highly esteemed and fervently venerated to this day.

I hope that you are aware that you are responding to posts made NINE YEARS AGO. Look at the dates please.

Okay so...the Orthodox and the Catholics have saints, and the Protestants do not. What does that have to do with autims vs nonautism?

"Fools of Christ" were always mentally abnormal, many of them might have been severily autistic.

Yeah, especially as I'm an autistic Protestant.
Perhaps GMW73 isn't aware of this, but not all Protestants are alike. Lutherans, the Anglican Communion, and others also have liturgical worship and rituals as well, very similar to Catholicism.

I think some aspects of Christianity may be particularly appealing or challenging for individuals with Asperger's syndrome. Here are some factors to consider:

Routine and structure: Many individuals with Asperger's syndrome appreciate routine and structure, and Christianity can provide that through regular religious services, prayer, and reading of scripture.

Literal thinking: People with Asperger's syndrome tend to think in concrete and literal terms, which can make it difficult to interpret metaphors or understand abstract concepts. Christianity does rely on some metaphors and symbolic language, which could pose a challenge for some individuals. However, Christianity also offers clear guidelines for behaviour and morality, which may appeal to individuals with Asperger's syndrome.

Social interaction: One of the core features of Asperger's syndrome is difficulty with social communication and interaction. Christianity, like many religions, involves social interaction through religious services and community activities. Some individuals with Asperger's syndrome may find these social interactions overwhelming or challenging, while others may appreciate the sense of community and belonging that comes with being part of a religious group.

Faith and spirituality: Faith and spirituality can be important sources of comfort and meaning for many people, including those with Asperger's syndrome. Some individuals with Asperger's syndrome may find comfort in the rituals and traditions of Christianity, while others may struggle with the abstract and intangible nature of faith.

Ultimately, the question of whether Christianity is a religion that suits individuals with Asperger's syndrome is a highly individual one. Some individuals with Asperger's syndrome may find that Christianity is a meaningful and supportive part of their lives, while others may not. It is up to each person to decide what religious or spiritual path, if any, is right for them.

"Religion is the metaphysics of the masses." Most people need help understanding the harsh realities of this world through metaphor and false assurance, but you don't need their needs.

"I hope that you are aware that you are responding to posts made NINE YEARS AGO. Look at the dates please."

Sorry, I didn't realize there was a time-limit on topics of interest.

"Okay so...the Orthodox and the Catholics have saints, and the Protestants do not. What does that have to do with autims vs nonautism?"

It's not about having saints, it's about how the religion expresses itself - order vs improvisation, tradition vs spontaneity, intellect vs emotionalism, and so on. The more ritualized, the more autism-friendly, IMHO.

As for the 'fools for Christ', I think they show that there is a place for neurodiversity even within these seemingly rigid and ritualized environments. They are not in the center of things, but at the margins, but they have a role to play. 'The Spirit blows where it will' as the saying goes.

"Yeah, especially as I'm an autistic Protestant.
Perhaps GMW73 isn't aware of this, but not all Protestants are alike. Lutherans, the Anglican Communion, and others also have liturgical worship and rituals as well, very similar to Catholicism."

I didn't mean to offend; I was speaking about general tendencies.

But yes, you're quite right in this regard - with thousands of different Protestant churches, there are many styles of Protestantism, some more liturgical than others, some more intellectual, some emotive and theatrical.

Apologies again if I inadvertently stepped on your toes.

Last edited by GMW73 on 07 Mar 2023, 10:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[quote="ConcreteDinosaur"]

"Literal thinking: People with Asperger's syndrome tend to think in concrete and literal terms, which can make it difficult to interpret metaphors or understand abstract concepts. Christianity does rely on some metaphors and symbolic language, which could pose a challenge for some individuals. However, Christianity also offers clear guidelines for behaviour and morality, which may appeal to individuals with Asperger's syndrome."

I'd say lot's of neurotypicals have trouble with metaphors and symbolic language too.

I hear a lot about how Aspie's have trouble with metaphor, and while generally true, there are exceptions. Yeats, Emily Dickinson and James Joyce have all been given the Aspergers' label. I personally love poetry. I can be over-literal in personal interactions, but this is quite different to a given context, be it religious or reading poetry, where metaphor is expected and can be interpreted (hopefully successfully).