Religious Perspectives on the Conceptions of Disability

Abstract

The influence of religion on the human worldview is beyond definition. The value systems, belief doctrines, and ritual practices of religions have, through the process of social construction, determined the position of the human being in the world. Contemporary society’s perspectives and attitudes toward disability often trace their origins to the deeper recesses of collective consciousness. An inquiry into this collective consciousness frequently leads to religious traditions and teachings.Disability is a term that has undergone numerous transformations. Often referred to solely in terms of deficiency or defined by limitations, disability is a concept that has been nurtured within the cultural framework of diverse perspectives. Humanistic studies demonstrate that interventions and understandings around disability have been shaped within such varied cultural constructs.What is the underlying reason for the formation of such perspectives in society? Disability has been marked in different periods of public consciousness through religious and cultural influences. The role of persons with disabilities within the structure of society is unique. Through religious, historical, and literary representations of disability, its moral legitimacy and sense of justice have long been questioned. Any approach to studying social and cultural discrimination remains critically relevant. The objective of this study is to examine the discriminatory configurations present in conceptions of disability within the religions of India. Social attitudes toward persons with physical and mental differences are generally bound by tradition. In earlier times, disability was confined to narrow interpretations shaped by religious beliefs, medical discourses, and existential conditions. Today, however, disability has begun to be recognized as a socio-political and cultural construct, gaining renewed attention across the globe. Philosophical streams and lived experiences related to history, culture, religion, society, and literature deeply influence the shaping of identity. Through these influences, disability is often misunderstood or misrepresented, and its contextual analysis is neglected. The religious foundations that have led to the marginalization of persons with disabilities from the social mainstream need to be examined. Religions and religious texts have played a significant role in shaping the societal notions about disability. The religious discourses in India offer a wide range of perspectives on the concept of disability. This study aims to critically analyse the diversity and complexity raised by religious consciousness in the conception of disability, within the context of social construction, identity, and the dominant notion of normalcy.