Autism Spectrum Disorders and religious belief.

[Odin2005]

Another thread got me wondering about the religious demographics of people on the autism spectrum like myself. I would expect that there are a far higher number of Atheists, Deists, Pantheists, Wiccans and Neo-Pagans, and Buddhists, basically belief systems that either reject the notion of a higher power, are apathetic about it, or convince of it in an impersonal force.

I've never been able to believe in a personal god. Even before I became an Atheist I thought of God in essentially Deist terms. I am baffled by the notion of a personal god for the same reason I am baffled by people, say, getting mad and yelling at a device that has quit working, as if it had ill-will towards the angry person, it's as if people are projecting our human folk psychology (something us autistics are notoriously bad at) on the physical world.

[liberalhistorian]

1. Odin, I'm a Christian who is also respectful of the views and

beliefs of others and recognizes that I have no right to force my own beliefs on others unless they specifically want to talk about it. I will say that, as the mother of an aspie and one who has a learning disability with AS/ASD traits myself, I've noticed a wide range of beliefs along those I've known on the spectrum. I don't really think it's dominated by any one belief.

I do know that aspies and ASD don't like being told what to believe (hell, actually, who really does, when you think about it?), so, when they ARE religious, they've come to it on their own. Which, frankly, is the way it should be. It's the way it was for me. Especially since I was raised in a staunchly agnostic home; I came to my beliefs and became a Christian on my own.

[Kajsa]

2. Liberalhistorian, my story differs from yours

only that I was raised Lutheran but left to my own devices to
figure our what worked for me-
I'm a freelance spiritualist- currently anchored at a local UM church.
( United Methodist) They are one VERY friendly, open minded group there.

My son, the 25 year old with HS autism is a full time member!
He loves it, and it has provided him with a lot of comfort and
social contact with others.

:)

[Odin2005]

4. Good for your son!

I am part of a UU congregation. :)

[Kajsa]

6. That's great, Odin!

Thanks!

:) :hi:

[Kajsa]

3. Hi Odin,

My response is to your OP too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=387&topic_id=1143&mesg_id=1145

:) :hi:

[sakabatou]

5. Atheist here