Breaking the Silence: Towards an Understanding of Human Disability for Family Life in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika

Breaking the Silence: Towards an Understanding of Human Disability for Family Life in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika

By Tumaini Sarakikya, 2020.  Abstract This thesis examines unexpressed suffering of mothers of children with disabilities in family life in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in Tanzania. While the needs of the people with disabilities are given great consideration in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika, the understanding of disability and its possible effects are given little attention. This thesis will bring to the fore suffering generated by cultural understanding of disability to the mothers of children born with disabling conditions in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. Under the influence of traditional views, mothers of children with disabilities are accused of inappropriate sexual relationships, triggering ancestor’s anger by breaking the taboos and for not maintaining good relationships with people during pregnancy. Personal narratives will assist in highlighting the effects of cultural understanding of disability that has victimizes women. A Christian understanding of disability which is rooted in Scripture will be explored. Careful attention will be given to the contradictory tones of Scripture in the whole issue of disability. However, Jesus boldly affirms that mothers are not responsible for the disabilities of their children (John 9:3). The church in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika is called to assist its members to cross the barriers. Just as Jesus crossed different cultural barriers in order to liberate people from understandings that were building hostility among themselves, so must the church today for the purpose of eliminating the sufferings of the mothers of children with disabilities.

Sarakikya, Tumaini A.

Virginia Theological Seminary

2020

@ Copyright 2020 by Tumaini Sarakikya

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