May 6 - 8, 2002
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Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services
to Persons Born in other Countries May 6 - 8, 2002 |
Refurbishing religious texts on disability for modern sensitivities: An old game continues
Miles, M.
Birmingham, England B29 5PX
m99miles@hotmail.com
Abstract
Cultural variations in views about disability are often associated with different religious beliefs, which in turn are derived from interpretations of texts and stories from the ancient scriptures of the major world religions. The available texts, even in conventional interpretation, often provide more room for maneuvering the meaning than might be expected. Ambiguities, adjustments and reinterpretations are traceable over many centuries, because apparently, some scholars, editors and lawyers with an incl usive mentality have long battled to find more space for people with disabilities in legal, social and religious life. Examples are given from several Asian and Middle Eastern religious traditions. The struggles and finessing continue, as modernizing thin kers, advocates and web users in each religion attempt to update textual hermeneutics, to interpret religious scriptures without provoking traditionalists.