Disability and Religious Diversity

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xx

   PDF

2. Religion, Narrative Identity, and Disability

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-3

      PDF

   2. God’s Will? How Two Young Latina Catholic Women Negotiate a Hidden Disability Identity

      • Aimee Burke Valeras

      Pages 5-17

   3. Whatever the Sacrifice: Illness and Authority in the Baha’i Faith

      • Priscilla Gilman

      Pages 19-45

   4. Since Feathers Have Grown on My Body: Madness, Art, and Healing in Celtic Reconstructionist Spirituality

      • Erynn Rowan Laurie

      Pages 47-69

3. Religion, Accessibility, and Disability

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-73

      PDF

   2. Disabled Rites? Ritual and Disability in Wicca

      • Jo Pearson

      Pages 75-90

   3. A Secular Case for Religious Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

      • Jeff McNair, Abigail Schindler

      Pages 91-102

   4. Beyond Models: Some Tentative Daoist Contributions to Disability Studies

      • Darla Schumm, Michael Stoltzfus

      Pages 103-122

   5. Health and Disability Care in Native American and Alaska Native Communities

      • Lavonna L. Lovern

      Pages 123-155

4. Interreligious and Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Disability

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 157-158

      PDF

   2. Chronic Illness and Disability: Narratives of Suffering and Healing in Buddhism and Christianity

      • Darla Schumm, Michael Stoltzfus

      Pages 159-175

   3. Disability, Agency, and Engagement: Three Wisdom Traditions’ Call to Be Radically Available

      • Lynne M. Bejoian, Molly Quinn

      Pages 177-199

   4. Native American Concepts Involving Human Difference

      • Lavonna L. Lovern

      Pages 201-219

5. Back Matter

   Pages 221-234

   PDF

This collection of essays examines how diverse religions of the world represent, understand, theologize, theorize and respond to disability and chronic illness. Contributors employ a variety of methodological approaches including ethnography, historical, cultural, or textual analysis, personal narrative, and theological/philosophical investigation.

• Buddhism
• care
• Christianity
• identity
• organization
• philosophy
• religion

"As much as scholarship on religion and disability focuses on the diversity of human bodies and experiences, it must also be attentive to the wide variety of religious traditions that form and inform us. This work is an important step in recognizing and affirming the religious diversity of our global community, and as such is long overdue." - Deborah Creamer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Iliff School of Theology

"This text skillfully captures the moments of intersection between religion and disability and shares the resulting disconnect or synergy in an honest and compelling way. Narratives and inquiry combine to inform and encourage rich discussion and debate about the inclusion of people with disabilities, or lack thereof, in diverse religious traditions." - Kimberly Tanner, Director, Access Office, Valdosta State University

"For those in the academy, this text fills a significant gap in the area of religion and disability. While there is an increasing body of literature within Christianity and Judaism that deals with issues of disability, little has been written from the perspective of other religious traditions. This volume, then, represents a significant step in exploring the intersection between disability studies and particular religions and spiritual practices. Hopefully it will spark further, more systematic analyses of the positive and negative contributions each religion makes to disability studies and to the lives of persons who livewith a disability." - Kathy Black, Claremont School of Theology

Author Darla Schumm: Darla Schumm is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Hollins University Author Michael J. Stoltzfus: Michael J. Stoltzfus is a Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University

Policies and ethics