As a once ashamed but now proud Aspie, it can be difficult (I'm still learning) to understand the nuances of social cues. For me, it is like diagnosing a disease based on symptoms.
I was a teacher for 7 years and failed miserably in many aspects (suffered from PTSD during my work experience). As a chemist for 10 years, I find that world much easier to deal with but still think in a very different way than my colleagues. It makes it hard for me to voice honest questions and objections about the way we do things.
Being a Christian seems like a logical thing to do, once you get over believing in something when common sense tells you not to (faith). But it is nice to have a system of truths in the Bible that is self-consistent (though I understand not everyone agrees with this).
Before I get to why I am writing this, I would love to hear from other Christians with ASD. What are your biggest challenges and successes at church (regardless of age group)?
Anyway, I digress. I suspect that there is a 14 year old girl at our church that has ASD. She is a great kid, very shy, has trouble communicating with others and trouble reading. While she probably has a processing disorder of some sort, I think it goes beyond that. She is an incredible free-hand artist who can draw characters of any type (Disney, Marvel Comics, made-up and hybrid characters). She is on an IEP at school, but I fear that her differences are being swept under the rug and her talents are unable to shine through.
When I was young, my parents tried to make me as normal as possible. Despite extremely high IQ scores, they wouldn't let me join the special classes. I thought I simply wasn't smart enough until I found out this from other parents. But I couldn't fit in with the other kids. I didn't have any real friends except maybe for 1 good friend in high school.
BTW, I'm always looking for chat room buddies. I don't private chat 1-on-1 as I am married and don't want to put myself in an uncompromising position. I love model building (LEGO), math/statistical modeling (and developing games with math), board/card game creation, and am finishing my first full-length novel.
Anyway, have a nice evening. I struggle with discouragement and can be a bit thin-skinned about it, but I have also learned to thrive in spite of (or because of) my Aspie status.
Mark
I went to church for years but never fit in. It is a social club. If you have trouble with social they won’t like you. Church is the hardest place to find a friend. If you criticize or show any anger they…
I forgot have two pieces of lego, a square thing with a handle and a white ninja holding it!
Four year later! priest now a female! Keep thinking will go to social event at church, but now Covid 19 arrived here! Maybe later!
Nice :) The original white ninja figure was the Ninja Princess from 90's Lego Ninja sets. I managed to get the re-release version of her from a boxed set of 5 female figures (including the green forestwoman which wasn't released in any UK sets).
Mines from ninjago! Lost his sword, so he is now holding a strange metal piece in his right hand and the gray lego in his left!
I forget its name!
I went to church for years but never fit in. It is a social club. If you have trouble with social they won’t like you. Church is the hardest place to find a friend. If you criticize or show any anger they will label you a bad person and won’t talk to you. But there is a place in church where you are wanted. Taking care of toddlers is that place. Small children don’t care about social talking. They can be very loving. I haven’t gone to church in 2 years. Every morning I watch my favorite preachers on TV and study the bible. That has helped me learn about Jesus more than I have ever done before. I now know more about the love of Jesus than most preachers. But I still have a lot to learn about how to give that love away. Knowing how I should love gives me great self-confidence. I don’t feel inferior anymore.
James Buchanan
I totally agree. I never even showed any anger at church, but my difference/s of opinion made them look at me as if I was a naive christian teenager.
I think it wouldn't be hard for you (or any Christian) to know more about the love of Jesus than many preachers, even the half-decent preachers seem to be more about knowledge/education than knowing Jesus.