Routledge Theology and the Experience of Disability: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Voices Down Under

The Christian gospel compels humanity to embrace deeper ways of being human together that will overcome false divisions and exclusions in search of flourishing and graced communities. Presenting both short narratives emerging out of theological reflection on experience and analytical essays arising from engagement in scholarly conversations Theology and the Experience of Disability is a conscious attempt to develop theology by and with people with disabilities instead of theology about people with disabilities. A mixture of academic, professional, practical, and/or lived experience is brought to the topic in search of constructive multi-disciplinary proposals for church and society. The result is an interdisciplinary engagement with the constructive possibilities that emerge from a distinctly Christian understanding of disability as lived experience. Review "This is a profoundly moving and important collection. Whilst many works on the interface of Theology and Disability have tended to ‘talk over’ rather than ‘talk with’ those with disabilities, here the voices of experience take centre stage. The diverse styles and mediums the authors adopt in their contributions signal aspects of the various ‘lived experiences’ they seek to represent. These voices from ‘down under’ are salutary correctives to those ‘up above’ in geographical, social, structural, ecclesial, and ableist terms." – Louise Lawrence, University of Exeter, UK "An impressive collection of essays not only ‘on’ disability but by the disabled. This is a book that takes head-on the challenge those with disabilities represent for the practices of the Church and our theological convictions." – Stanley Hauerwas, Duke University, USA About the Author The Christian gospel compels humanity to embrace deeper ways of being human together that will overcome false divisions and exclusions in search of flourishing and graced communities. Presenting both short narratives emerging out of theological reflection on experience and analytical essays arising from engagement in scholarly conversations Theology and the Experience of Disability is a conscious attempt to develop theology by and with people with disabilities instead of theology about people with disabilities. A mixture of academic, professional, practical, and/or lived experience is brought to the topic in search of constructive multi-disciplinary proposals for church and society. The result is an interdisciplinary engagement with the constructive possibilities that emerge from a distinctly Christian understanding of disability as lived experience.