Can people who are autistic connect to G-d?

can people who are autistic connect to G-d?

of course they can. I think they can connect better than the rest of us to Hashem
my father is autistic (he has aspergers syndrome), and he is highly spiritual. he has some difficulty relating and expressing love, but it's all there in his heart. he's full of kindness, and he lives his life according to a strict routine of moral and ethical behaviour. he has been through hardship, but he clings to G-d unflichingly.

we all are how we are meant to be in this lifetime. why would G-d put someone in this world if He could not connect with them and have a relationship with them?

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5867

I would say yes. No reason why not. Connection to G-d is very individual and looks different for every person but if anything G-d should be easier to relate to than people because He doesn't have a whole slew of social graces expectations!

Gold Member Joined: Jul 07 2008 Posts: 1495

Yes. I know some young adults with autism that have more kavana on each bracha they say then anyone else. One young women can quote the entire berishis. And understand what it means.

absolutely. my brother has special needs and for his bamitzvah he studied with his speech therapist to learn what he was able and on the day he did it perfectly and connected with it and many people at shul were crying because it was so beautiful
obviously this is a fictional example but in one of isaac bashevis singer's stories there is a mentally retarded man and he goes into a shul and he starts praying and he understands everything

also, in this world we are not meant to know the full extent of the secrets of spirituality and G-d's world. so the more removed a person is from this world (I.e. the more autistic/mentally disabled), the more they know, in spiritual terms, because their soul is closer to G-d. their souls always retain a greater proximity to G-d than the rest of us shall we say. the greater their mental handicap, the more they know.

I have a son who's severely autistic. He definitely has a connection to hashem for his soul came down to us from under His throne.

Honestly autism is a VERY broad spectrum so it's a hard question to answer.

It's like asking if people with brown hair can connect to G-d.

A person who is completely non-verbal and locked in his own world most likely does not have a conventional understanding of/connection to G-d. On the other end of the spectrum highly functioning autistic individuals can possibly have a greater connection to G-d than most NTs (Neurotypicals).

The jury is still out on wether aspergers is on the autism spectrum but most definitely those with aspergers can have a very strong connection with G-d.
I, personally have aspergers (though I was only diagnosed in the last few years) and for a large portion of my childhood and teenage years I felt that G-d was the only one who understood me and what I was going through and I cried out to him often. I am sure I had a much stronger connection to G-d than most frum NT teenagers who were more preoccupied with their chessed projects, their friends and the latest styles.

Executive Member Joined: Oct 28 2011 Posts: 418

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBjUmj95r6g

I believe so. I think they have a special neshama and a special connection to hashem.
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