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Is Autism A Gift From God?

Joshua S

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Hello

I've always wondered (and there is a lot of debate from many Autistics around this) if Autism is a gift from God or if it's a curse? I could see it being both. Most Autistics are highly intelligent including those that are low-functioning but then nearly all Autistics struggle on the socialization part and that's where people start to think it's a curse as it can limit them in doing things other people without Autism might easily be able to do such as going up to a stranger and striking up a conversation.

I don't think Autism or any other disorder is mentioned in the Bible but I would assume Autism or any other disorder wouldn't exist unless God wanted it to exist. Some say Autism is the next step in human evolution. (I don't mean from apes to humans evolution, I mean in terms of how humans develop socially, mentally, etc)

Sometimes I feel like Autism holds me back and on top of other disorders I have which also include mental disorders, I wonder why God has given me these disorders when he alone has the ability to take them away or at the very least make it easier to deal with the disorder.
 

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yeshuaslavejeff

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Sometimes I feel like Autism holds me back and on top of other disorders I have which also include mental disorders, I wonder why God has given me these disorders when he alone has the ability to take them away or at the very least make it easier to deal with the disorder.
See in the OT and in the NT how often Yahuweh and Yahushua healed those who were sick.
Also if possible (it may be hard to find) see how often between 1920 and 1960 many different diseases were healed. (most if not all known diseases have been healed at one time or another).

Also, very important, see in the NT WHY JESUS could not do much in some cities.

This is still true today.

It is so much contrary to the world's view of things, they have censored much or what might be helpful, as often as they can.
 
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Snoder

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Yes, autism (without complications; ASD1) IS a gift from God.

Aggravated autism (ASD2/3) is the same as ASD1, PLUS a severe, if preventable, injury on top of it.

Autism is not caused by vaccines.
You linked a blog that stated: "Aggravated Autism
ASD2s & 3s
are ASD1s that have an additional brain injury on top of their hereditary autism. They used to number 1:1000 births. An unknown epidemic struck the millennials bringing that occurrence up to 4-5:1000 births* (I have two such children). It is known in some circles as Millennial Autism. (That is what most people think of when they speak of autism.)"

There is no 'unknown epidemic'. There has been a higher number of diagnoses for autism based on understanding what it is.
 
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Sabertooth

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Autism is not caused by vaccines.
I know. We just have a more sensitive immune system to some of them.
There is no 'unknown epidemic'. There has been a higher number of diagnoses for autism based on understanding what it is.
The article from California doesn't count ASD1s (which is the bulk of us), only 2s & 3s. There is most definitely an epidemic of ASD2/3s among the Millennials. They are the ones who occurred 1:1000 before the change was made to certain vaccines. (I got all of mine without any problems [before that change].) ASD1s (without complications) have always been present.
 
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Amu

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I know. We just have a more sensitive immune system to some of them.

The article from California doesn't count ASD1s (which is the bulk of us), only 2s & 3s. There is most definitely an epidemic of ASD2/3s among the Millennials. They are the ones who occurred 1:1000 before the change was made to certain vaccines. (I got all of mine without any problems [before that change].) ASD1s (without complications) have always been present.
Hi, I’m living in the UK and I was wondering if there were any quiverfull groups that you could get me in contact with.
 
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bmjackson

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It can be a gift, if the problems it causes for example in having problems connecting with people and the loneliness involved, leads one into a deeper dependance on God and a higher development of spirituality. Or it could go the other way with resenting the suffering.

Moses had autistic traits btw.
 
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SkyWriting

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Hello

I've always wondered (and there is a lot of debate from many Autistics around this) if Autism is a gift from God or if it's a curse? I could see it being both. Most Autistics are highly intelligent including those that are low-functioning but then nearly all Autistics struggle on the socialization part and that's where people start to think it's a curse as it can limit them in doing things other people without Autism might easily be able to do such as going up to a stranger and striking up a conversation.

I don't think Autism or any other disorder is mentioned in the Bible but I would assume Autism or any other disorder wouldn't exist unless God wanted it to exist. Some say Autism is the next step in human evolution. (I don't mean from apes to humans evolution, I mean in terms of how humans develop socially, mentally, etc)

Sometimes I feel like Autism holds me back and on top of other disorders I have which also include mental disorders, I wonder why God has given me these disorders when he alone has the ability to take them away or at the very least make it easier to deal with the disorder.


The wages of Sin is death. And who wants to be average anyway?

Massage reduces autism severity 44%; one in 4 kids recover.
Pick a reputable place though.
 
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Sabertooth

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Massage reduces autism severity 44%; one in 4 kids recover.
Pick a reputable place though.
It won't elevate my severe children's mental ages of 8yo [he's 32] & 18 mos./still preliterate [she's 25].

Aspies ASD1s, like myself, don't see our collective condition as one that needs to be cured, but rather, as an example of neuro-diversity. Gifteds are another example. (I am both.)
 
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SkyWriting

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It won't elevate my severe children's mental ages of 8yo [he's 32] & 18 mos. [she's 25].

Aspies ASD1s, like myself, don't see our collective condition as one that needs to be cured.

You only possess full control over what is impossible.
The rest of the world doesn't see it.
 
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Sabertooth

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You only have full control over what is impossible.
I don't know what that means.

He [ASD2] lives in a supervised apartment, in another city. Because of executive function issues, he is impervious to consequences. He does not get causation; never has. He has been living in that situation for, at least, ten years with no discernible improvement.

She [ASD3] lives at home with us. She will strip down naked on a whim, eat non-food items and poop on the floor (if a toilet isn't available*) just like any other 18 mo.-old. She just inhabits the body of a 25yo woman. (Don't even ask about menstrual blood.)

*Fortunately, she has a commode.
 
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SkyWriting

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I don't know what that means.

He [ASD2] lives in a supervised apartment, in another city. Because of executive function issues, he is impervious to consequences. He does not get causation; never has. He has been living in that situation for, at least, ten years with no discernible improvement.

She [ASD3] lives at home with us. She will strip down naked on a whim, eat non-food items and poop on the floor (if a toilet isn't available*) just like any other 18 mo.-old. She just inhabits the body of a 25yo woman. (Don't even ask about menstrual blood.)

*Fortunately, she has a commode.

Seems like there is room for improvement.
The limits of what can change are all in your mind.

Have you ever mirrored her? It might take months to connect.
Have you worked with diet, and flow states? Some people
need a lot of flow state changes to develop.
Have you checked Ph? Some problems are caused by incorrect ph.
Sometimes you can just improve some symptoms.
 
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Sabertooth

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The limits of what can change are all in your mind.
All levels of autism have a neurological deficit in social instinct; that is, reading social cues. It is comparable to being "color blind" to certain aspects of communication.

These severe cases are not developing at a proportionally slower rate (where they will eventually "catch up"). Their neurological development has been halted at one stage or another. Some of my own neurology can be compared to a 12 or 13yo, which actually confers some advantages (like more flexible thinking* than is typical for my age [57]).

Those who DO manage to continue to develop, will rise to the level of ASD1. ASD1 IS the healed version of ASD2/3.

*A trait found in both aspies & gifteds.
 
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Have you ever mirrored her? It might take months to connect.
She has spent 12 years in a school system "full of" experts. They managed to partially potty-train her, but still couldn't get her to stop biting them. (I did, but only for me. It didn't transfer.)
Sometimes you can just improve some symptoms.
Aggravated autism is not a "cold."
 
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SkyWriting

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She has spent 12 years in a school system "full of" experts. They managed to partially potty-train her, but still couldn't get her to stop biting them. (I did, but only for me. It didn't transfer.)

Aggravated autism is not a "cold."
I have autistic family members and my wife is a career educator.
No school system can be counted on to have expertise higher than family members.
But all lay and professional people do succumb to self-created limits
when working to accomplish goals.

There are no long term research studies confirming your conclusions
on how much a person with autism can/cannot change in adulthood.
 
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Sabertooth

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There are no long term research studies confirming your conclusions
on how much a person with autism can/cannot change in adulthood.
If you don't count 35 years of parenting... [See the "Semmelweis effect."]

My 2e* consultant/advisor, a PhD, considers me to be a consultant on the matter. I was one of a handful of people that she consulted when writing her thesis.

*Twice-exceptional.
 
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SkyWriting

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If you don't count 35 years of parenting... [See the "Semmelweis effect."]

My 2e* consultant/advisor, a PhD, considers me to be a consultant on the matter. I was one of a handful of people that she consulted when writing her thesis.

*Twice-exceptional.
I mentioned that.
No school system can be counted on to have expertise higher than family members.
But given the diversity and lack of resources, few parents are exposed to more than a handful of therapy options, out of hundreds.
 
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