Christianity and Ableism as punishment from God
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
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.
