Disability and Religious Diversity

Author Darla Schumm: Darla Schumm is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Hollins UniversityAuthor Michael J. Stoltzfus: Michael J. Stoltzfus is a Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University

• PART I: RELIGION, NARRATIVE IDENTITY AND DISABILITY Performance of Muslim Daily Prayer by Physically Disabled Practitioners; A.Dokumaci Since Feathers Have Grown on My Body: Madness, Art, and Healing in Celtic Reconstructionist Spirituality; E.R.Laurie Whatever the Sacrifice: Illness and Authority in the Baha'i Faith; P.Gilman Stations of Victoria & Rosalina's Broken Bread; A.B.Valeras PART II: RELIGION, ACCESSIBILITY AND DISABILITY Disabled Rites: Ritual and Disability in Wicca; J.Pearson A Secular Case for Religious Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities; J.McNair & A.Schindler Health and Disability Care in Native American & Alaska Native Communities; L.L.Lovern PART III: INTER-RELIGIOUS AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS OF DISABILITY Native American Concepts Involving Human Differences; L.L.Lovern Chronic Illness and Disability: Paradigms of Suffering and Healing in Buddhism and Christianity; M.Stoltzfus & D.Schumm Disability, Agency and Engagement: Three Wisdom Traditions Call to be Radically Available; L.Bejoian , M.Quinn & M.Bazna Best Practices for Faith-Based Organizations Working With Deaf Communities in Developing Countries; A.Wilson & K.VanGilder

"As much as scholarship on religion and disability focuses on the diversity of human bodies and experiences, it must also be attentive to the wide variety of religious traditions that form and inform us. This work is an important step in recognizing and affirming the religious diversity of our global community, and as such is long overdue." - Deborah Creamer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Iliff School of Theology"This text skillfully captures the moments of intersection between religion and disability and shares the resulting disconnect or synergy in an honest and compelling way. Narratives and inquiry combine to inform and encourage rich discussion and debate about the inclusion of people with disabilities, or lack thereof, in diverse religious traditions." - Kimberly Tanner, Director, Access Office, Valdosta State University"For those in the academy, this text fills a significant gap in the area of religion and disability. While there is an increasing body of literature within Christianity and Judaism that deals with issues of disability, little has been written from the perspective of other religious traditions. This volume, then, represents a significant step in exploring the intersection between disability studies and particular religions and spiritual practices. Hopefully it will spark further, more systematic analyses of the positive and negative contributions each religion makes to disability studies and to the lives of persons who livewith a disability." - Kathy Black, Claremont School of Theology