TOPIC : Christianity and Ableism as punishment from God (400 – 1800 CE) 1) Outline the basic history of the event(s). You can use a timeline or write it out. 2) What ways was disability defined during your topic’s era? 3) How were the differently abled (disabled) treated during your topic’s time? 4) What beliefs, attitudes and values of your chosen topic’s culture influenced the way differently abled people were treated?
1) The history of Christianity and ableism as punishment from God spans from approximately 400 CE to 1800 CE. During this time period, there was a prevailing belief among Christian societies that disability was a result of divine punishment, a consequence of sin or moral transgressions. This belief was deeply rooted in Christian theology and influenced how differently abled individuals were perceived and treated.
In the early Christian era, particularly during the Middle Ages, there was a strong influence from the Church on societal views regarding disability. Disability was commonly seen as a physical manifestation of sin or a sign of God’s disfavor. This belief was reinforced by biblical passages that described individuals who were afflicted with disabilities as being marked by their sinful actions or those of their ancestors. Examples include the story of Lazarus and the parable of the man born blind.
During this time period, disabled individuals were often stigmatized and marginalized within society. They were viewed as being morally inferior and were often excluded from participating in religious rituals and community life. Additionally, some disabled individuals were even accused of being possessed by demons, leading to their further marginalization and mistreatment.
2) Disability was defined in various ways during this era, many of which were heavily influenced by religious and cultural beliefs. In Christian societies, disability was often seen as a form of divine punishment, with the notion that individuals who were disabled had somehow sinned or were being punished for the sins of their ancestors. Disability was also sometimes seen as a test of faith, with the belief that those who remained faithful in the face of disability would be rewarded in the afterlife.
Furthermore, disability was often categorized based on the type of impairment, such as physical, cognitive, or sensory. Physical disabilities, such as blindness, deafness, or loss of limbs, were commonly recognized and perceived as visible signs of divine punishment. Cognitive disabilities, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, were often misunderstood and attributed to moral failings.
3) The treatment of differently abled individuals during this time period was often harsh and discriminatory. They were frequently excluded from mainstream society and faced various forms of segregation and mistreatment. In some cases, disabled individuals were even subjected to acts of violence or abuse. For instance, during the witch trials of the late Medieval and Early Modern periods, disabled individuals were often targeted as they were believed to be in league with the devil.
Disabled individuals were also generally denied access to education, employment, and marriage. They were often seen as a burden on society and were left to rely on charity or the care of their families. Additionally, disabled individuals were often subjected to forced institutionalization, where they would be confined to asylums or other facilities that provided minimal care and often subjected them to inhumane conditions.
4) The treatment of differently abled individuals during this time period was greatly influenced by the beliefs, attitudes, and values of Christian society. The dominant cultural belief was that disability was a form of divine punishment and a consequence of sin. This belief was deeply ingrained and perpetuated through religious teachings and societal norms. It created a system of ableist privilege, where those who were considered “able-bodied” held higher status and privilege in society, while disabled individuals were marginalized and oppressed.
Moreover, the culture of Christian societies emphasized the importance of moral purity and conformity to religious doctrine. In this context, disability was seen as a deviation from the norm and as a threat to the moral fabric of society. This led to the stigmatization and mistreatment of differently abled individuals, as they were deemed to be morally inferior and deserving of their fate. The fear of disability as a form of divine punishment also led to a sense of individual and collective guilt, further perpetuating the societal marginalization of disabled individuals.