Listening to the Powerless: Experiences of People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities in an Evangelical Church

Abstract

The experiences of people with severe intellectual disabilities (SID) in local churches are rarely studied, and their voices are not being heard in the research and religious communities. This study is an attempt to narrow the gap. Through a research method that combined person-centred care and action research, this study looks to explore the experiences of three persons with SID in a Hong Kong evangelical church, and give an account of the cultural and religious forces that have marginalized them. Findings show that it is not merely feasible but also necessary for church caregivers to listen to these powerless individuals if they want to be liberated from destructive stereotypical images of SID, broaden their basis of religious epistemology, and transform their spiritual care practices. However, the study reveals that there are some remaining barriers. It is found that the problematic evangelical style of spirituality has made Christians without disabilities misconceive individuals with SID as either inferior in the matter of faith or even incapable of coming to faith. Three corresponding types of pastoral responses that have kept persons with SID at the margins of the faith community are identified and discussed in this paper. The research results implies that evangelical Christian communities need nothing less than a critical examination of the logic of coming to faith if they want to remove such religious prejudice against persons with SID in future.

Implementing the Value of Character Education in Islamic Religious Education in State Elementary School (SDN) Ciranjang 02 Cianjur

“…d. The activities (learning) of Islamic Religious Education are intended to increase students' belief, comprehension, appreciation, and experience of the Islamic religion's teachings, in addition to forming piety (personal attributes) and simultaneously developing societal piety (Muhtar et al, 2019). Personal piety is supposed to flow outward in daily interactions with religious and nonreligious individuals, as well as within the nation and state, so that national unity and integrity can be achieved (Shea, 2019).…”

What is Research on Disability? Looking Backward to See Forward

“…How might modern Christian devotional practices exclude those with learning impairments or sensory incapacities? Might some contemporary devotional practices exacerbate assumptions among contemporary Christians, for instance, that those who are unable to read the Bible or pray out loud or make their confirmation confession may perhaps be incapable of being "real" Christians (Shea, 2019)? It is in this way that such historical case studies can provoke contemporary believers to think in a more polyvalent manner about avenues open to Christians who wish to agitate for change in the church on disability issues.…”