Non-Speaking Autistic Participation in Liturgy and Church Life: (Non-)Speech Acts
-
Armand Léon van Ommen
and
Helena Cundill
Abstract
Many liturgies depend on speech. But how do those autistic people who do not speak, or speak only minimally, participate in liturgy? This article addresses how eight non- or minimally-speaking autistic people experience liturgy. Having used a range of methods for data collection, we identified two key themes in the data: the desire for (1) liturgical and (2) social participation. We interpret these findings in light of speech-act theory. We propose that conventions around what is interpreted as meaningful communication or prayer are socially constructed and can be shaped to take account of the contribution made by non- or minimally-speaking worshippers.
Zusammenfassung
Viele Liturgien sind sprachlastig. Wie können dann autistische Menschen am Gottesdienst teilhaben, die nicht oder nur in sehr begrenztem Umfang sprechen? Der Aufsatz legt auf Grundlage einer multi-methodischen Untersuchung unter acht Menschen mit Autismus dar, wie diese die Liturgie erleben. Die Ergebnisse werden mithilfe der Sprechakttheorie interpretiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass soziale Konventionen von Kommunikation oder Gebet so umgeformt werden können, dass auch die Beiträge von nicht-sprechenden Gottesdienstteilnehmer:innen ins Geschehen einfließen.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Carnegie Trust for the Universities in Scotland for funding this research project.
© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Editorial: A Look Back and Ahead after 12 Years with the IJPT
- A New Interview Tool for the Investigation into the Experiences of Spiritual Family within Church Communities
- Ecclesiastical Policies on Education: A Democratic Game of Winners and Losers?
- Non-Speaking Autistic Participation in Liturgy and Church Life: (Non-)Speech Acts
- Unravelling the Experience of Grace: Antecedents, Consequences and Circular Dynamics in the Experience of Grace
- Anthropologische Wende in der katholischen Religionspädagogik?
- Keeping the Tensions. The Path to an Open, Inviting, Communicative, and Responsible Practice of Baptism in a Secular Society
- International Report
- Recent Trends of Practical Theology in Finland
- Research Report
- Religious Education and Ecumenical Formation in Post-confessional Settings – Essentials for the Theological Education of Pastors and Teachers of Religion
- Book Reviews
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- Andrew Linzey, Clair Linzey (eds.), Animal Theologians, New York (Oxford University Press) 2023, 452 pp., ISBN 978-0-19-765554-2, $125.00 (Paperback: $39.95)
- HyeRan Kim-Cragg, Postcolonial Preaching: Creating a Ripple Effect, Lanham / Boulder / New York / London (Lexington Books) 2021, 149 pp., ISBN 9781793617095, $100 (Paperback: $39.99)
