Disability and religion

[Secret Chief]

Hopefully you won the argument. I reckon you did since thr comment has been deleted

The site is playing up again, for me.

 

[sun rise]

How does your religion view disability? What are some views on disability that your religion has both good and bad whether or not you disagree or agree with said views? Historically has this been different?

Meher Baba washed the feet of lepers, bowed down to them and offered them a small gift. He referred to them as "beautiful souls in ugly cages".

When I take how Baba treated lepers and the following story, it's clear to me that no matter someone's ability, he or she is the spiritual equal of everyone else and should be treated as such. This is further indicated in a story about a group we might call trans (hijara) that indicated we should not judge why someone is the way they are. Karma is a facile answer but that can be used as a put down. The story was of a group of hijara led by a "Perfect Master" (think Perfect Saint)

Baba told us that in such a community in the city of Lucknow, there was a Perfect Master. In order to uphold this utterly rejected section of humanity, it was ordained that one from that tribe should become a Perfect Master. And so it was. One of this tribe became Perfect and so, naturally, all of his disciples were also of the tribe. This Perfect Master became the leader of the tribe.

 

[Eddi]

Im going to be reading several books on disability and religion soon. As such I have questions for yall...

How does your religion view disability? What are some views on disability that your religion has both good and bad whether or not you disagree or agree with said views? Historically has this been different?

Jesus made people who couldn't walk be able to walk.........

So he wanted to make disabled people not disabled

Which would be an example of miracle working, if this actually happened

So, Christianity wants to cure disability even though this is not possible

 

[Quintessence]

It rarely comes up explicitly in the context of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. The way the journey is structured... you take it in whatever way you are abled to do. It's made clear the flow of inspiration can come from anywhere and everything so there's sort of an implicit valuation of diversity and plural approaches to being and doing. There is specific warning given to be cautious walking the path with certain mental health challenges. Because it is deep work and not issuing that warning would be irresponsible and dangerous. But beyond that, it's not really addressed directly.

 

[GardenLady]

How does your religion view disability?

In my religion of origin (Roman Catholicism) it would be viewed as a cross we bear (as in "take up your cross and follow me"). I'm not sure it would be viewed as different from other life challenges that various people bear in various ways. We all have our crosses to bear.

I'm relatively new to my current denomination (ELCA Lutheran). But based on preaching and discussion that comes to mind, my perception is that it would be regarded in the same way--one of the many crosses that various people bear in life.

I have never heard in either Catholic or Lutheran teaching/preaching the "old school" view that disability is a punishment. For example, as in John 9:2 where disciples ask why someone was born blind, whether it was his sin or his parents' sin. Neither would view my mother's rather severe disability from a stroke as a punishment for sin.

 

[rocala]

I'd say so. I've gone down the path of Zen Buddhism and the year is 2023, so I have no notion of serial killers "coming back" as a three legged ferret or whatever. Rebirth if it has any meaning is moment to moment. Buddhism is, in my understanding, a vehicle for living. Punishments, gifts, messengers and sins are not a part of the Seals, the Truths nor the Path.

I am very much with Secret Chief here. The only thing I would add is that when I was studying Buddhism, Karma did not account for everything, there is also a luck factor. But whatever, there is nobody or thing sitting in judgement.

This is interesting. This means in your religion we all have struggles so being disabled isnt seen as worse or better then being abled bodied.

Absolutely, whatever your disability might be, you are just as special as the rest of us.