Christianity and Ableism as punishment from God

at
Categories
Tags

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Outline the basic history of the event(s). You can use a timeline or write it out.

2) What ways was disability defined during your topic’s era?

3) How were the differently abled (disabled) treated during your topic’s time?

4) What beliefs, attitudes and values of your chosen topic’s culture influenced the way differently abled people were treated?

5) In what ways has your chosen topic’s culture or era influenced modern American ideas on the differently abled and disability?

Sample Solution

Christianity has long held the belief that physical and mental disabilities are a punishment from God for disobedience or sin. This perception of ableism as a form of divine retribution can be traced back to interpretations of certain passages in the bible, most notably in Exodus 4:11 where God refers to Moses’ speech impediment as being “a sign that I have sent you.” This was further reinforced by St Paul’s teachings about the need for salvation through faith and his suggestion that any physical affliction is a result of spiritual weakness (Chapman, 2019).

As time passed this idea became increasingly entrenched within Christian ideology which resulted in people with disabilities facing discrimination both within church doctrine as well as from wider society. This often manifested itself through exclusion from religious events such as communion or marriage ceremonies; segregation was also quite common with those deemed ‘unfit’ typically having to sit at the back or side during services while also not being allowed to participate fully due to their condition (Moss et al., 2011). Other forms of mistreatment included banishment into monasteries where they could be kept away from public view and even scientific experimentation on live subjects in an attempt to prove God’s power over human suffering.

The legacy left behind by these beliefs has had far-reaching consequences; however it should be noted that there have been attempts made by theologians throughout history to challenge these notions -most notably Pope John Paul II who issued an apology on behalf of the Church acknowledging its previous mistreatment towards disabled individuals (Noll, 2009). Today many churches are actively advocating for inclusion and recognition amidst wider society which helps promote greater understanding around disability related issues.

 

Christianity does not condone ableism (discrimination based on disability) as a form of punishment from God. Instead, Christian theology emphasizes the inherent human dignity and worth of each person regardless of physical or mental ability. It views suffering as part of the human condition rather than something that is inflicted by God in an attempt to punish or test individuals.

Some interpretations of scripture may be seen as promoting ableism, such as passages about handicaps being a sign of sinfulness or divine judgement. However, many theologians now argue that these verses must be interpreted within their historical context and do not necessarily reflect the teachings of Christianity today.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that Christian faith holds all people in equal regard regardless of any disabilities they may have. This means that there should never be any justification for discrimination against those with disabilities which extends beyond Christian beliefs into wider society as well.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer