Autism and Worship

Name: Autism and Worship
Price: 85.99 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9781481319904

A Liturgical Theology

Armand Léon van van Ommen

$85.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We will update you on expected arrival time to us. If this delay is too long, please let us know within 2 business days and we can give you options regarding cancelling or adjusting your order. More details on cancelling your order can be found in our Terms of Trade.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Baylor University Press
01 October 2025

Christianity; Christian liturgy, prayerbooks & hymnals; Christian theology; Christian life & practice; Disability: social aspects

In churches today, those on the autism spectrum are often at best overlooked by neurotypical church members or at worst infantilized. Viewed as ""other,"" autistic people who feel excluded from the church community abound, and statistics show that they are less likely to attend church than others. Other autistic people do participate in worship but testify to being dismissed when asking for ""reasonable accommodations,"" and they are routinely given fewer formal roles in the liturgy.

In Autism and Worship, Armand Léon van Ommen offers an in-depth analysis of the absence and ignoring of, but also the presence of, autistic people in worship. Van Ommen recounts the experiences of autistic people and considers how those experiences might reframe liturgical theology and the worship practices of the church. He identifies the ""cult of normalcy"" as the root of the marginalization of autistic people. Normalcy is boundary keeping, the protective set of dynamics that determines who belongs to the community and who is excluded. The answer to absence and ignoring is found in presence and availability, rooted in kenosis. Through the act of making himself available to humankind by becoming human, Christ participated in humanity. Believers are invited to participate in the life and prayer of Christ in turn and accordingly make themselves available to one another.

The new identity in Christ redefines what is deemed normal and redefines who is ""in"" or ""out."" Van Ommen argues that this redefinition results from a kenotic liturgical theology of availability. He illustrates this fresh vision by analyzing the Chapel of Christ Our Hope, a church in Singapore that is centered on autism and provides a paradigm for a renewal of Christian worship. Autism and Worship contributes to liturgical theology and the emerging field of autism theology as well as the practices of worshiping communities.

By: Armand Léon van van Ommen
Imprint: Baylor University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 19mm, Spine: 152mm
ISBN: 9781481319904
ISBN 10: 1481319906
Pages: 263
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Armand Léon van Ommen is Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology and Co-Director of the Centre for Autism and Theology at the University of Aberdeen. He is co-editor of Disciples and Friends: Investigations in Disability, Dementia, and Mental Health.

Reviews for Autism and Worship: A Liturgical Theology

Autism and Worship by Armand Leon van Ommen is a profound exploration of the intersection between autism and worship. By integratinginsights from theology, psychology, and disability studies, Van Ommen provides a well-rounded perspective that enriches the reader's understanding of the subject. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in religious leadership or community building and those seeking to understand the intersection of autism and spirituality. --Ryan Lytton, Life Pacific University ""Brill""