AUTISM , HUMANITY AND PERSONHOOD : A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Jennifer Anne Cox BSc; GradDipEd; BTh; BTheol (hons) This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2015 1 I declare that this thesis is my own account of my research and contains as its main content work which has not previously been submitted for a degree at any tertiary education institution. ………………………………………………….. Jennifer Anne Cox 2 Abstract Theological anthropology is charged with providing an understanding of the human. But theological anthropology can exclude people who are cognitively impaired because it has historically upheld reason as the image of God. Recent theology of intellectual disability has bypassed this difficulty by emphasising relationality as the image of God. This approach, however, has the unfortunate consequence that it excludes people with severe low- functioning autism, who do not relate to others as persons but as objects. This thesis aims to articulate a theological anthropology which is inclusive of people with severe autism. Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, the main characteristic of which is difficulty in social interaction. An examination of the Genesis creation story reveals both that God is relational and that human beings were created to live in relationship with God and other humans. This raises the theological question of how we may understand people with severe autism as human persons. Through an investigation of the significance of the incarnation I argue that the best basis for an inclusive anthropology, not dependent on any characteristic or ability, is the vicarious humanity of Christ. This is because Jesus Christ is the only human being who is without sin and the only true image of God. He is therefore able to gift others with both humanity and personhood. The work of the incarnation is completed by the atonement and resurrection. The work of the cross overcomes death and provides the basis for the eschatological healing of autism. This healing is actualised in the resurrection of the dead, when all that was proleptically true of the humanity of autistics will be fully realised. My christological, inclusive theological anthropology provides a strong basis for upholding the dignity and value of all people with severe autism. 3 Table of Contents ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 8 THE ISSUE .................................................................................................................................... 8 THE LITERATURE ......................................................................................................................... 12 MY APPROACH ........................................................................................................................... 28 SUMMARY OF THE THESIS ............................................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER 1 ‘AUTISM’ ............................................................................................................ 38 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 38 THE ‘D ISCOVERY ’ OF AUTISM ........................................................................................................ 40 THE CORE FEATURES OF AUTISM .................................................................................................... 44 Impaired Social Skills ......................................................................................................... 44 Impaired Reciprocal Communication ................................................................................ 47 Repetitive or Restricted Interests and Behaviours ............................................................. 49 AUTISM OVER THE LIFETIME .......................................................................................................... 51 PERCEPTIONS OF AUTISM ............................................................................................................. 54 AUTISM TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 57 TWO LIVED EXPERIENCES OF AUTISM .............................................................................................. 61 Gunilla Gerland – A Real Person? ...................................................................................... 62 Joe: The Only Boy in the World .......................................................................................... 69 CONCLUSION : THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS ......................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER 2 ‘CREATION’ ......................................................................................................... 81 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 81 IN THE BEGINNING ELOHIM : GOD EXISTS IN COMMUNION .................................................................. 84 GOD SAID , “L ET THERE BE LIGHT ”: GOD ’S COMMUNICATION ............................................................. 88 CREATION EX NIHILO : GOD ’S NEW THING ........................................................................................ 90 LET US MAKE HUMANS IN OUR IMAGE ........................................................................................... 93 AUTISM AND THE IMAGE OF GOD ................................................................................................... 99 HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH : NEWNESS ............................................................................... 101 ADAM GAVE NAMES TO ALL THE ANIMALS : HUMAN COMMUNICATION .............................................. 104 IT IS NOT GOOD TO BE ALONE : HUMAN COMMUNITY ..................................................................... 106 NO AUTISM IN THE BEGINNING .................................................................................................... 108 THE ORIGIN OF AUTISM ............................................................................................................. 110 Three Opinions about the Origin of Disability ................................................................. 110 Sin as the Origin of Autism .............................................................................................. 114 Why Alternatives to Sin as the Origin of Disability Fall Short .......................................... 122 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................ 127 CHAPTER 3 ‘INCARNATION’ ................................................................................................ 131 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 131 THE PROBLEM WHICH INABILITY POSES TO THEOLOGY ..................................................................... 134 SOME INCLUSIVE ANTHROPOLOGIES ............................................................................................. 139 Human Being as Mutuality and Response ....................................................................... 140 The Cult of Normalcy ....................................................................................................... 143 Extrinsic Anthropology .................................................................................................... 146 JESUS CHRIST : TRUE HUMAN BEING AND TRUE IMAGE OF GOD ......................................................... 149 Jesus Alone is True Human Being .................................................................................... 149 Jesus Christ the True Image of God ................................................................................. 154 Sharing the Humanity of Christ ....................................................................................... 159 IRENAEUS : RECAPITULATION ........................................................................................................ 161 THE IMPLICATIONS OF IRENAEUS ’ THEOLOGY .................................................................................. 171 J.B. TORRANCE : THE VICARIOUS HUMANITY OF CHRIST .................................................................... 176 IMPLICATIONS OF THE VICARIOUS HUMANITY OF CHRIST ................................................................... 184 THE NATURE OF HUMAN PERSONHOOD ........................................................................................ 191 PERSONHOOD AND SEVERE AUTISM .............................................................................................. 197 JESUS CHRIST THE HUMANIZING HUMAN AND PERSONALIZING PERSON ............................................... 199 HUMANIZING HUMAN AND PERSONALIZING PERSON AND AUTISM ..................................................... 205 CONCLUSION