American Disabled Forced To Religion Away From Normalized Lives

[Morpheal]

It is time that someone from among the experts on disability in America came
forward and explained why America's disabled tend to be forced into a more
extreme religious stance than the average population. They are led, even pushed
and brain washed, against their will away from more normalized relations and
lifestyles, and towards religion in a way that is at distinct variance to the majority
of the rest of the population.

Some are taught that they have nothing to offer anyone other spirituality, and
that religious spirituality is all that they themselves really need.

Clearly a form of prejudice.

I wonder where America's psychologists, sociologists and psychiatrists are
on that one. Seems it has been a taboo subject for far too long.

Cheers.

Robert Morpheal

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. hmmmm

I think a lot of them are fervent believers in religion and miracles because they want to be healed. Just my opinion. Low self esteem may well have a lot to do with it -- christianity feeds very much on low self-esteem by reinforcing it, often leading to depression among churchgoers, and sometimes even to suicide.

Good question.

[Inchworm]

2. The whole idea of training society is hogwash to me

It ain't about socialization. It's about the person hearing the crap.

I've learned to "give in" to the staunch representers, but, hey, I had to teach my daughter the same both sides. Where I live revivals still go on.

Certain people target anyone who will listen.

Just sayin...

:hi:

[KamaAina]

3. Possibly because more mainstream society rejects and isolates us?

:shrug:

note: my own religious views might be considered extreme in the opposite direction. I am basically one step away from being agnostic; I do believe in something but am not sure what to call it.

[KamaAina]

4. The National Organization on Disability has several manuals on this subject

http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=99

[ThomCat]

9. I didn't see anything there that addressed this question.

[KamaAina]

10. They're focusing on how to make mainstream religion more inclusive.

As it stands, people with disabilities tend to turn to the fundies, 'cause they'll accept anybody, regardless of race, disability, etc., as long as they're "saved". "It's OK If You're A Fundie".

Now I'm thinking about one of the regular anti's back in NOLA. She spent every clinic hit down on her knees, praying, in the gutter. We called her the "Praying Mantis". :-) In retrospect, she could very well have had a psychiatric disability or even been on the autism spectrum.

edit: But if mainstream churches would follow the NOD and similar recommendations, we'd have alternatives to that.

[Traveling_Home]

5. For the longest time......

the ONLY place in American society where severely disabled people were (still are) accepted or at least welcomed to be a part of the community was in a Christian Church. Couldn't get in restaurants, couldn't get in voting booths, couldn't get in schools, couldn't get a job. Church folk would come by lift you up and carry you in.

No political party or social club or employment agency or governnment program cared when you were (are) poor and disabled and homeless AND INVISIBLE - Churches were (are) always our best hope for caring folk.

[sakabatou]

6. Well, I'm disabled

but an atheist :P

[auntsue]

7. I'm trying to get into some subsidized housing

and it seems that most on the list are run but a church group - I'm not very churchy and I don't think if fit in too well but rent here is more than half my income - not good

[KamaAina]

8. The OP has been TS'd

Vaya con Dios...