"Let the Children (With Down Syndrome) Come to Me": God's Shalom and the Radical Hospitality of the Church
This article examines the current selective abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome and understands this phenomenon as a result of late modernity's concept of the good life being grounded in autonomy and a choosing self. In contrast, God's shalom presents a counter-narrative of eschatologic...
| Published in: | Journal of disability & religion |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2015]
|
| In: |
Journal of disability & religion
|
| Further subjects: | B
Down Syndrome
B Hospitality B Church B Peace B L'Arche B Adoption |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This article examines the current selective abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome and understands this phenomenon as a result of late modernity's concept of the good life being grounded in autonomy and a choosing self. In contrast, God's shalom presents a counter-narrative of eschatological hospitality. Ephesians 2:11-22 proclaims a welcome that brings those previously considered outliers into the "new humanity" of the koinonia. This essay argues that the church has an opportunity to witness to society's devaluing of persons with Down syndrome by intentionally seeking to adopt them into their faith communities. This approach not only provides a home for the rejected, but facilitates the church's transformation into a people who personify reconciliation and unity. The communities of L'Arche exist as embodiments of God's eschatological hospitality and potentially stand as mentors for the church in performing this radical act of welcome. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2331-253X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of disability & religion
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/23312521.2015.992618 |