![]() There are stories in scripture that illustrate healing on the basis of faith. Churches and religious institutions must be aware that some people with disabilities often are tokenized in their communities. Tokenism is defined as the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to do a particular thing, especially by recruiting a small number of people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of equality within society. In what ways do we change burden carrying theology into healthy, life-giving theologies? A person’s disability may create obstacles, but that is because society has not accommodated and adjusted. ![]() Theological rhetoric that frames a person with a disability’s experience in burden carrying creates unhealthy theologies. How do we change our language and rhetoric in religious spaces? This language, though subtle, creates exclusive spaces for people who may not be able to see, hear, walk, talk, etc. We experience metaphors of walking with Christ in comparison to discipleship and other examples of ableist language. “O God allow us to see your kin-dom.” “Hear us, O God.” Often in prayer, song, sermons, and even scripture, language of sense occurs. How do we bring accessibility out in the open and create a new way of physically creating structures that provide hospitable space for people with disabilities? Many times, ableist ideals of aesthetic get in the way of full inclusion of people with disabilities which can hurt, demean, and ostracize a person. And if there are forms of accessibility present, they are usually located out of site (spaces in the back of churches, ramps over to the side, etc.). Here are just 8 Ways Ableism Shows Up in Religious Spaces:Ĭhurches and other religious gathering spaces often lack accessibility for people with disabilities. As the church moves forward in its mission of full inclusion, we must be aware of how ableism presents itself in our religious spaces. ![]() This, along with countless other means, is an example of ableism – the discrimination and oppression against a person with a disability. The church often speaks to the role of inclusion as foundational however, people who experience disabilities are often forgotten, ignored, and sidelined by the institution and ministries.
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