This course discusses enigmatic topics concerning disability from a biblically informed perspective for missions concerning physically disabled persons. Topics covered include the meaning to be humans as created in the image of God, the connection between persons with disabilities and the wide variety of Christian communities and practices, how Christ’s healing of bodies becomes a sign of the spiritual healing, and crucial theologies on disability, especially liberation theology. Based on readings, discussions, and lectures, students are assessed through writing book reviews, class presentations, papers, and practical projects.
This course deepens students’ understanding of God’s plan with all the creatures, including the disabled persons. It clarifies the complex topics concerning disability, such as theodicy, the meaning of existence, and the scope of salvation. As a result, this course helps students prepare well, intellectually and practically, for their mission in a world shared by both abled and disabled humans.
Disability is a crucial source of suffering in the human world, and the theological reflection on disability has been challenging. Thus, disability becomes a significant concern of both theology and salvation. For a person called to do missional work, it is crucial to know why God allows disability, what kind of problems disability might raise, and God’s solution to it.
Readings, discussions, and lectures are based on biblical texts, especially those concerning God’s creation and Christ’s healing of bodies.
Healing bodies is an essential part of God’s mission. This course focuses on God’s healing power on disability and the meaning of such healing for disciples’ missions.
This course explains the contextual feature of topics concerning disability, such as its definition, and how this feature impacts missional solutions to problems caused by disability.
Different cultures may have different understandings of and attitudes to disability. This course investigates the cultural difference in disability and the significance of this difference for missional work.
This course considers Christian solutions to disability more than an intellectual understanding of disability. The purpose is to apply Christ’s healing strategy to this world.
Throughout this course, students are encouraged and equipped to live out their faith in the love, patience, and power of Christ in healing bodies, as the Bible reveals.
