![Sample our Humanities journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5939/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Humanities.jpg"})
Abstract
Theological education has yet to grapple with the complexities of autistic lives and the wider neurodiversity movement. This article discusses the ways in which theological education is complicit in the epistemic oppression of autistic students and lecturers. It proposes that autistic theology can be called “peculiar” and that so also can theological education be made peculiar for autistic theology students. A pedagogy for autistic theological education is proposed via engagement with Paulo Freire, black and feminist theologies. Such a theology, in a confessional Christian context is described as post-Pentecostal conscientization and seeks a community of students and scholars that treat the classroom as holy ground for autistic lives.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 Milton (Citation2012). For the most significant challenge to the notion that autistic people are ‘failures’ at necessary social interactions.
2 For a more developed version of this argument see Williams (Citation2023), Peculiar Discipleship: An Autistic Liberation Theology SCM Press.
3 Slee is clear that this is not in the manner of powerlessness but the teacher has a strong and firm sense of their own identity rooted in Christ. See page 173