A Flourishing Quality of Life Amidst Disability

Theological reflection can benefit from including the experiences of people with disability and paying attention to people at the margins. Similarly, empirical research focusing on understanding and improving quality of life—even amidst serious disability—can benefit from engaging theologically. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of disability & religion
Main Author: Boehm, Thomas L. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Taylor & Francis 2022
In: Journal of disability & religion
Year: 2022, Volume: 26, Issue: 4, Pages: 363-389
Further subjects:B Empirical methodology
B Intellectual disability
B Theological Reflection
B Flourishing
B family quality of life
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Theological reflection can benefit from including the experiences of people with disability and paying attention to people at the margins. Similarly, empirical research focusing on understanding and improving quality of life—even amidst serious disability—can benefit from engaging theologically. The purpose of this article is to explore the definition of a flourishing quality of life by integrating these often disconnected discourses. We begin with a summary of the empirical literature on family quality of life (FQOL) as one approach to define flourishing. Next, we provide an overview and summary of the major methods and assumptions of empirical research that expose its limits. Finally, onto this landscape of empirical research we offer theological contributions to flourishing by highlighting the pivotal role of relationship with God. Specifically, we offer a theologically informed, three-sphered definition of faith that goes beyond merely what one believes. We then offer a theologically informed model of relational depth with God that is supported by theoretical and empirical findings in social science literature. The goal for integrating these scholarly discourses is ultimately to better understand and more effectively improve the quality of life for all people, including those with disabil]ity.
ISSN:2331-253X
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of disability & religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/23312521.2021.1901636