Autism, Identity, and Religion.

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Autism and Religion.

Two words you'd never think of putting together, right? One is a neurological disorder that impairs social development, and the other is an organized system of beliefs, dogmas, and traditions, with the emphasis of acknowledging a central deity, deities, or state of being, and an afterlife after we are deceased.

So why do I bring up two seemingly unrelated things together?

We understand the reality of autism. A lot of us are on the spectrum, others are neurotypical family members or spouses of someone who is on the spectrum, and others are neurotypical parents of autistic children.

We all know that the autistic spectrum exists, but my question is this "How does autism impact our religious views? (if we do associate ourselves with a particular religion)".

For those who are atheists, agnostic, or apathetic in their belief system, I ask "Does being autistic impact your views on religion?" For instance, does being autistic make you question the existence of a god? And if it does, can you state why or why not?

For those who follow a religion (like Christianity (Protestantism/Roman Catholicism), Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, etc). I would ask the same question- "Does having autism impact your views on religion?"

For example, does it make your faith stronger? Does it make you question the goodness of the God you believe in? (like "How could a kind and merciful God make someone autistic and different from everyone else?). Does it weaken your faith, knowing that you were created a little differently than everyone else who is neurotypical? Or do you just accept the fact that you are autistic, and really don't think much about it?


I will give you my personal testimony. As a autistic individual, with a high functioning form of autism, being autistic has made me question my faith often. I'm well aware of the social/psychological differences between myself and my neurotypical brethren, and I often ask "Why did God create me different from everyone else?", "Why do I have this burden that most people don't deal with?"

There is also a certain amount of shame I feel, knowing that I am so close to being neurotypical, but I will always autistic, and that will never change. I apologize if my viewpoints come across as offensive, but these are my personal thoughts, they aren't meant to offend others who have accepted their autism.

But that's besides the point. I'd like to hear what you guys think- Whether having autism has affected your religious beliefs, or lack of religious beliefs.

No.

Maturity, wisdom, two years at Seminary, eight years as an Elder, and actually reading the Bible have impacted my views on religion - they have made me contemptuous of religion and religious people.

My NT acquaintances and coworkers share my views, as well; and none of them have experienced religion as deeply and intensely as I have.

There is no causative connection between autism and religion. There is not even a strong correlation.

This one is organized religion right?

I don't think it makes a difference though, to be on topic..
I started as a militant atheist as a teenager.
Learned about buddhism, christianity, satanism.
I was then a weird mix of atheist, buddhist, laveyan satanist.
I wasn't content, learned about hinduism, daoism, islam, and judaism.

I'm now some kind of mix of atheist, buddhist, daoist, and hindu.

I think religion is shaped by your environment, and your curiosities... If you're happy just blindly following your parents' religion/lack of religion then all the power to you, ignorance is bliss.
But I find that those who actually take the time to study religions don't end up having a concrete belief in one system.. There's too much overlap in so many of them to even do so, in my opinion.

I hear hindus, christians, buddhists, jews, and even atheists say things that all sound the same at a core level... everyone's just trying to figure out how to live 'properly'.

Let us not forget that religion was the human race's first attempt at science, philosophy, history, everything really... but they grew independently of each other (imagine life without the internet!)
Not to mention they were also passed orally to begin with in many cases, especially those with a pagan origin/twist... so there's a teacher/student mentality that still remains I believe, a sort of "duty" to teach children your "truth", however uneducated that truth may be.

You know, I never even considered if my religious beliefs have been impacted by my autism, especially since I only became diagnosed late in life, and I've been a life long Lutheran.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I dont believe I'm Autistic any longer. I've out grown it, (not in the sence I never had it, but I've matured.) I can read body language unless its super complex and the only real side effects I have is coordination issues and trouble making friends. I suspect if driving was on the right side of the vehical here in the USA I could do it. The left side of my body is completely useless for anything. mostley what my problems have been and now that I see are I was a horrible Alcoholic for seven years. This had multiple negative imapcts on my overall mental/health. I was this way because my coping skills were terrible. I was in pain and the easiest thing for me to allevate this was to mask it with alcohol. Anyways, I'm a Taoist. I'm so happy I found this way. Its completely changed my life, for the better.

I'm glad you're doing better. As an adult, I'm doing much better socially and with physical coordination than I had when I was younger. But the fact remains, while I've learned how to compensate for my developmental delays, I am, and will always be autistic.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I believe god created me with a purpose. Maybe being autistic helps me fulfill that purpose. How am I supposed to know the will of a benevolent all-powerful being? I think this question has more to do with attitude than anything else.

I can question my existence, but asking why I was created this way is a selfish act. It is trying to shift blame. To have an identity one has to accept it.

The social constructs of the church would be another matter to discuss. How much of a religious experience is a social meeting, a ritual. How much is changing ones views on life and accepting a message? How much is it imposing a will on someone else? The humble shall be exalted and those who wish to be exalted shall be humbled. Those who seek power for themselves gain nothing. Those who humble themselves and help others to the limits of their abilities shall be fulfilled. Getting too preachy, where was I coming from again?

I'm pleased to hear that you have overcome your addiction to alcohol. Tell me, if you so choose, what was the reason that you started drinking? Was it because of the depression of knowing that the left side of your body was not working? Or was it the realization that you were autistic, and therefore different from everyone else?

I understand addiction all too well personally, and though I've never done drugs, or drowned my real or perceived sorrows in liquor, there are other things that can become an addiction.

For instance, and I've seen this often on the Love and Dating forum, some high functioning autistic guy is frustrated because he cannot socialize with women and date them, and in his desperation and loneliness, he asks others here if they think it is alright to sleep with prostitutes, or pay for sex services etc.

A more convenient and relatively cheap method would be pornography, since it is usually free on certain sites, and easy to access electronically. I'll tell you though, from personal experience, porn is a very negative addiction, and affects you mentally and physically. I could tell you more, but I don't want to go into a lecture.

Just know that you aren't alone when it comes to addiction. Even though you follow Taoism, and things are back on track with you, just know that.

From your language, and your paraphrasing of the Bible ( The humble shall be exalted and those who wish to be exalted shall be humbled), I already know that you are a Christian.

As a fellow Christian, I am impressed by your faith- in the sense that you accept the idea that God made you this way for a purpose, and that it is more about you fulfilling the purpose He's given you. The fact that you don't question "Why was I made this way" is admirable.

But I will point out that in the Book of Job, in the Old Testament, Job did ask "Why?!" and wanted to know the origins and purpose of his suffering. He wanted to know WHY God allowed him to suffer, and even God Himself said to Satan "Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8).

Job was a righteous man according to God, he wasn't just some random individual who didn't know God and wasn't making petty complaints, like the Jews out of the desert after being liberated from the Egyptians by Moses through the help of God. He never curse God, but He wanted to meet His maker, and ask Him "Why!? Why do I suffer? What did I do to deserve this suffering?

It is only human to question "Why?!" And to paraphrase God in the Book of Job "I created everything, and I have a plan for everything, so trust me when I say everything will be alright in the end. I am God, I know what I'm doing, so just leave it to me".

It is hard to have such faith under suffering, or acknowledgement of suffering, so it is understandable to question "Why?!"

I liked the way it made me feel. the taste was awful but it was better than what I was feeling. It worked for awile to take care of my problems until it became a wild tiger I could no longer control

And thanks. I do know that anything can become an addiction, I wish I could get addicted or atleast motivated to make friends!