Disability, Providence, and Ethics: Bridging Gaps, Transforming Lives

249 Pages·2014·0.98 MB·English

by  Hans S. Reinders

H A N S S . R E I N D E R S
D I S A B I L I T Y,
P R O V I D E N C E ,
A N D E T H I C S
B R I D G I N G G A P S , T R A N S F O R M I N G L I V E S
Disability, Providence, and Ethics
SERIES EDITORS
Sarah J. Melcher
Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio)
and
Amos Yong
Fuller Teological Seminary (Pasadena, California)
Disability, Providence, and Ethics
Bridging Gaps, Transforming Lives
Hans S. Reinders
Baylor University Press
© 2014 by Baylor University Press
Waco, Texas 76798-7363
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys-
tem, or transmited, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of Baylor University Press.
Scripture quotations, where not an author’s own translation, are from the New Revised Stan-
dard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
Cover Design by Alyssa Stepien
Cover image: Te Blind Dancing at Night; Les Aveugles dansent la Nuit, 1956 (oil on canvas),
Ernst, Max (1891–1976) / Private Collection / Photo © Christie’s Images / Te Bridgeman
Art Library. © 2014 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
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Nobody knows what sufering or sacrifce means—except, perhaps,
the victims.
—Joseph Conrad
God tempers the wind for the shorn lamb.
—Anthony Trollope
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SERIES INTRODUCTION
Studies in Religion, Theology, and Disability brings established
and newly emerging scholars together to explore issues at the intersection
of religion, theology, and disability. Te series editors encourage theoreti-
cal engagement with secular disability studies, while also supporting the
reexamination of established religious doctrine and practice. Te series
fosters research that takes account of the voices of people with disabilities
and the voices of their family and friends.
Te volumes in the series address issues and concerns of the global
religious studies/theological studies academy. Authors come from a
variety of religious traditions with diverse perspectives to refect on the
intersection of the study of religion/theology and the human experience
of disability. Tis series is intentional about seeking out and publishing
books that engage with disability in dialogue with Jewish, Christian, Bud-
dhist, or other religious and philosophical perspectives.
Temes explored include religious life, ethics, doctrine, proclamation,
liturgical practices, physical space, spirituality, or the interpretation of
sacred texts through the lens of disability. Authors in the series are aware
of conversation in the feld of disability studies and bring that discussion
to bear methodologically and theoretically in their analyses at the inter-
section of religion and disability.
vii
viii DISABILITY, PROVIDENCE, AND ETHICS
Studies in Religion, Teology, and Disability refects the following
developments in the feld: First, the emergence of disability studies as an
interdisciplinary endeavor that has impacted theological studies, broadly
defned. More and more scholars are deploying disability perspectives in
their work, and this applies also to those working in the theological acad-
emy. Second, there is a growing need for critical refection on disability in
world religions. While books from a Christian standpoint have dominated
the discussion at the interface of religion and disability so far, Jewish, Mus-
lim, Buddhist, and Hindu scholars, among those from other religious tra-
ditions, have begun to resource their own religious traditions to rethink
disability in the twenty-frst century. Tird, passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act in the U.S.A. has raised the consciousness of the general
public about the importance of critical refection on disability in religious
communities. General and intelligent lay readers are looking for scholarly
discussions of religion and disability as these bring together and address
two of the most important existential aspects of human lives. Fourth, the
work of activists in the disability rights movement has mandated fresh
critical refection by religious practitioners and theologians. Persons with
disabilities remain the most disafected group from religious organiza-
tions. Fifh, government representatives in several countries have priori-
tized the greater social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Disability
policy ofen proceeds based on core cultural and worldview assumptions
that are religiously informed. Work at the interface of religion and disabil-
ity thus could have much broader purchase—that is, in social, economic,
political, and legal domains.
Under the general topic of thoughtful refection on the religious
understanding of disability, Studies in Religion, Teology, and Disabil-
ity includes shorter, crisply argued volumes that articulate a bold vision
within a feld; longer scholarly monographs, more fully developed and
meticulously documented, with the same goal of engaging wider conver-
sations; textbooks that provide a state of the discussion at this intersec-
tion and chart constructive ways forward; and select edited volumes that
achieve one or more of the preceding goals.
CONTENTS
Foreword x i
Stanley Hauerwas
1 Disability and Divine Providence 1
2 Cosmic Fairness? 31
3 Providence: Intervention and Transformation 53
4 Does the Cosmos Contain Keys? 73
5 A Man Named Job 97
6 Fons Omnium Bonorum 125
7 Providence in Christ 145
8 Stories We Live By 167
Notes 191
Bibliography 221
Index 229
ix