Disability and Christian Theology Embodied Limits and Constructive PossibilitiesOxford University Press, 2009 M01 5 - 168 pages Attention to embodiment and the religious significance of bodies is one of the most significant shifts in contemporary theology. In the midst of this, however, experiences of disability have received little attention. This book explores possibilities for theological engagement with disability, focusing on three primary alternatives: challenging existing theological models to engage with the disabled body, considering possibilities for a disability liberation theology, and exploring new theological options based on an understanding of the unsurprisingness of human limits. The overarching perspective of this book is that limits are an unavoidable aspect of being human, a fact we often seem to forget or deny. Yet not only do all humans experience limits, most of us also experience limits that take the form of disability at some point in our lives; in this way, disability is more "normal" than non-disability. If we take such experiences seriously and refuse to reduce them to mere instances of suffering, we discover insights that are lost when we take a perfect or generic body as our starting point for theological reflections. While possible applications of this insight are vast, this work focuses on two areas of particular interest: theological anthropology and metaphors for God. This project challenges theology to consider the undeniable diversity of human embodiment. It also enriches previous disability work by providing an alternative to the dominant medical and minority models, both of which fail to acknowledge the full diversity of disability experiences. Most notably, this project offers new images and possibilities for theological construction that attend appropriately and creatively to diversity in human embodiment. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
1 Understanding Disability | 13 |
2 Disability and Christianity | 35 |
3 Theology and the Disabled Body | 53 |
4 Liberation Theologies of Disability | 75 |
5 Limits and Disability Theology | 93 |
Embodied Limits and Constructive Possibilities | 115 |
Notes | 121 |
135 | |
153 | |
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Disability and Christian Theology: Embodied Limits and Constructive ... Deborah Beth Creamer No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
ability ableism argues attention Avalos barriers body challenge chapter Christian theology church claims cochlear implants cognitive disabilities complex concern construction contemporary contribute Deaf community Deaf Culture defined disability rights movement disability studies diversity Eiesland embodied experience embodiment theology emphasizes ences especially example experiences of disability experiences of limits explore feminist feminist theology gender God’s healing hearing Hebrew Bible highlights human embodiment human experience Ibid identify identity images impairment implications important individual insofar interdependence interpretations issues Jesus lack liberation theologies limits model lives McFague McFague’s model means medical and minority medical model metaphorical minority model nature nondisabled normal normalcy notes notion offers oppression particular Paul’s person perspective physical political postmodern proposal recognize reflection on disability reject relation relevant religion religious Sallie McFague scholars sense sexual sign language significant social society stories suggests theological reflection thorn tion traditional understandings wheelchair writes