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Apparently god did not intend for people to have autism
- Feb 11, 2010 at 10:52 PM
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- Comments (17) Total Views (502) Everyone can see this journal post.
Because I have more friends and I am tired of explaining already :O) here is the long version of today's thought bubble.
As
some of you know, I am pretty active in a religious debate group.
During a debate on homosexuality today, kind of out of the blue, a troll new
member popped up with this:
Having gay or lesbian tendancy is an "incurable disease," so to use a parallel. What about people with autism? That is not the way God intended them to be. However, that is incurable and something they have to endure their entire life.
I do feel bad for people who have sexual tendancy just as I feel bad for people who have autism. My heart goes out to them. This does not mean they are looked down upon at all. I would befriend either of them.
&*&*&*&*&*&*
Gosh, that last part is mighty big of her, huh?
As a life-long atheist, of course, I don't believe the work of any sort of god is at play in my incurable disease condition. This journal is not for that purpose, and drive-bys or any other form of intent-to-convert fruiting
preaching will be unappreciated for all but mocking purposes. But,
this person was evidently appalled by the idea that atheists are allowed
to contribute to any thread in the group, just as though we are
citizens or decent people or something, and she stated it was likely
not the group for her. Well, her loss, because it is one of the best
groups on this site. But because of this, I strongly suspect my
questions to her will go unanswered and unexplained...which is another
reason I decided to journal this. I know that a LOT of cafemom
members share this person's views on homosexuality. Is ANYONE else
aware of this view of autism?
I have lived in the
south my entire life. I am very familiar with the concept of assigning
blame to the construct of satan for accidents at birth and various
physical and mental conditions. There is a great deal of this
documented historically, as well, throughout many times and cultures --
not necessarily "satan" to all, but a sign of evil, or of some party
being cursed...either the afflicted, or a member of the family said
afflicted was born into. Those deemed cursed in this manner were often taken
to mountaintops or forests, and exposed in a rather chickenshit way to
allegedly allow the exposer the privilege of being able to weasel out
of direct blame for a direct killing of family; or if they were more
fortunate, they were simply announced as dead and sent away, or kept
hidden in back rooms and basements so that "decent folk out in society
at large" were not affected by the horror. It's only in recent decades
it's become more trendy a realization that we the
afflicted really are actually human beings. (It's a double-whammy for
me...lots of christians still don't grasp atheists are really human
beings, either.)
I've heard (read) many parents and grandparents of autistic children
say that their children are touched by god, but they usually mean this
in a good way. Some even go so far as to say those children were "given" to
them by god as a "test" or a "gift" to teach them something...I won't
even go into the absurdity of a "loving" god who blights the innocent
in this manner as an object lesson to other people; I think that is a
whole 'nother journal, and to each their own....but to get back on-topic, here, this is a
conceptual thought process I have never encountered before. About
autism. I am fully aware some people look at homosexuality in numerous
uncharitable ways, including it being a disease, and a blight upon
humanity. (Again kinda like atheism...sigh.) And
that since time began, different cultures have had quite the hot-cold,
on-off love affair with the idea of homosexuality, too. One minute
it's okay, the next it's you have to die, then it's okay
again...currently it's "politically okay" but you know you are going to
hell and how dare you expect to be treated as more than a second-class
citizen?
Anyway,
this person's view is intriguing. And since she won't tell me what I
want to know, I am asking all of cafemom to try to help me out here.
Has anyone ever encountered a person of this view? Tell me, please, if
you know of someone. And see how they answer the following:
If "god" did not intend us (autistic people) to be this way, then what is the theory on why we are? I can almost see how it works to certain christian minds that the devil whispers, or makes people think or whatever, that they are gay, but I'm not quite sure how the devil tells me to only wear certain fabric textures or to have certain food certain ways before I can eat them. (I'm thinking, either way, he has waaaaay too much time on his hooves if he's doing this...does he not have a war to start or a Job to try or something?)
And then there is my other burning question.
What exactly do autistic people need to do to "get in good" with god if
-- BIG IF -- HUGE IF-- (IF with reminder that this is theoretical and
not any sort of call for religion, thanks for offering, please try next
door) she is right? I mean, certain christians go around proclaiming
all the time that "all" homosexuals have to do is simply not engage in
homosexual sex on top of eschewing all other kinds of sin, and it is
all good. So
what is it exactly that we would need to stop doing? Because autism
covers a really broad spectrum of behaviors that range from wholly
innocuous to wildly animalistic rampaging. Some don't touch, some
touch too much; some talk too much, too little, too soft, too loud.
Some speak without filters, some do not speak at all but for to grunt or
squeal...but find the key to unlocking communication for them, and a
whole world can open up you never knew existed inside their heads. Some
wear diapers their whole lives or can't wipe their own ass. Some can
take your toilet apart in five minutes or do astrophysics for fun.
Some rock, some flap; some sit lost in a book or activity for
unbelievable amounts of time, some can demolish a room and everything
in it in mere minutes. Some need institutionalizing because their
issues are so extreme, some walk amongst you and unless you take five
minutes and pay attention, you actually might never know it. There is
simply no ONE UNIFYING THING that makes us autistic like there is with
homosexuality. So, tell me, please, what we would need to do?
Now I know, some people are going to read this and insist "everyone"
does not do this, every christian does not feel this way about autism,
or homosexuality, or even atheists. I know that. No, really, I do. I
also know that the only person who can really answer these questions
most likely will not ever come back to that post and see them. Which
is why I am curious to see if anyone else can answer them. Because I
am sure she is not the only one out there who thinks this way.
Anyone?
Comments:
I know, I know.
I'm a rabble-rouser.
How dare I want to know?
Well, it's certainly news to me that her god doesn't love my daughter--and believe me, I'm gonna go wake her up RIGHT. THIS. MINUTE. to tell her so.
But before I do, I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and propose that the reason this woman and those of her ilk are so convinced there's something wrong with being different is because her god started ignoring her YEARS ago. So, rather like a spoiled toddler, she's gonna throw a temper tantrum, hoping beyond hope that someday, her god will smack her down and tell her to fucking behave.
No? Too much? Too damn bad.
Oh, and your nazi badge is totally safe. I have decreed it.
:::clutches badge tightly close to heart::: WHEW!
Before I ever got to the last of your journal, I planned on thanking you for not wadding all Christians into one group. I am Christian, but I can still appreciate your point and laugh at excellent humor --her god will smack her down and tell her to fucking behave."
I have never met anyone who had the opinion--or at least they wouldn't admit it aloud---who thought a person with any 'difference' should just 'stop doing' whatever it was which made them different.
I have a serious problem with the original poster's statement "I feel bad for someone having sexual tendancy" (grrr, report her to the grammar AND spelling police) because I certainly have 'sexual tendency' and I don't plan on doing anything to stop it. In fact, I do believe it's biblical to have the desire to procreate. Perhaps I'm in the minority and never knew it.
My thoughts? I mean, other than how much I adore me some Marie, I think people with that type of thought process regarding their religion truly believe they have all the answers. But those answers don't come from original thought or from looking with a critical and questioning eye. They take life at face value instead of looking within themselves, to what their heart speaks, to really see what humanity is and how to be a part of it. They prefer separating and dividing themselves and others into little groups so they can label humans as good or bad. Wrong or right. Lost or worthy.
Wow, I got a little out there with that, but I think I made some sense.
I can TOTALLY see where you got what you got out of her statement. But honestly, I think that, probably, where she was actually coming from was that "God wouldn't do that to his children." Don't get me started on her comparing homosexuality to autism, BUT, you have to admit, your life would probably be a lot easier if you weren't autistic. A lot of people believe that anything that makes life less easy must not be "of God."
But, I have no idea who you're talking about or what she was thinking, so that's entirely speculation.
Marie, not going to be of much help at this time lol.. I'll have to search out the post though, now I'm intrigued!! ;P
Oh, and great post btw... it seems to be genetic too?? AND, us autistics seem to tend more towards atheism- maybe it is just cuz we know god has it in for us.. and we are evolving away from a belief ability.
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Marie, you know damn well these kinds of people haven't actually thought throught the specifics of beliefs like this! How dare you suggest they do? LOL
- metalcowgirl34
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