Once upon a time, when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders included Aspergers,
the question was asked:
What’s up doc?…
How do you know an Aspiephobic person when you cross paths with one?
Whenever you hear the word disease, disability, handicap, or disorder connected with reference to Aspergers!
This morning I woke up thinking about how odd it is that there exists so much hatred towards Harold Camping’s exercising his freedom of speech and faith. I’m sure it’s nothing in comparison to what it will be as time progresses. However, compared to the amount of hatred exhibited towards any other Christian’s public proclamations (or towards a yogi, yogini, monk, rabbi, priest, etc.), it’s beginning to seem that Mr. Camping is approaching the same level of persecution as what the apostles and Jesus had to endure.
The apostles and Jesus were physically killed. It’s doubtful Camping shall endure the same fate — after all, we are a civilized society that tolerates religious diversity, right? It doesn’t take too much intelligence though to be able to detect what attitudes reside in the hearts of those who desperately desire silencing Harold Camping. Why I must ask? What makes him so much worse than even cult leaders who have lured many into suicide? Also, why is the bulk of criticism towards Camping’s publications coming from those claiming to trust God as judge and executor of vengeance?
It’s one thing to criticize things of this world, like artwork or large organizations, but a whole other ballpark to attack those who share their faith. As long as no one is being forced to live by another’s beliefs, we have no right to attack someone else’s free speech. The only reason I can see why verbal assaults are focused upon a particular individual would either be because of pride or fear.
Harold Camping isn’t just gone after viciously on the internet, he is bombarded periodically by Open Forum callers. I always marvel over how well Camping stays on course, unruffled as he teaches; like an ocean liner unaffected by little waves. I’m not claiming he’s perfect (nor does he) and I don’t mean to have it sound like I look up to him as my spiritual leader. The bulk of what Family Radio holds as doctrine are things I already had come to conclude from my own study of the bible BEFORE I even heard Family Radio or knew anything about Harold Camping’s publications.
Now after my exposure to what will always basically be unacceptable to most readers of the bible, I’m learning that there are a remnant of others who are encountering a similar spiritual walk in knowledge and often in the same way — stumbling upon the discovery they’re not alone in what’s becoming unveiled lately. The difference between those like me and Harold Camping is that he has a lot more exposure to the public. That’s why it’s easy for people to think of him as the one who started the radically controversial concepts in theology having to do with end times.
This is one reason why some misguidedly claim Camping is a cult leader (honestly, who thinks his face is charismatic enough to qualify?) If that’s the worst rock one can throw, that’s pretty lame.
One of my first special interests in psychology was to study how cult leaders and dictators used subliminal tactics to brainwash people. I became amazed by how those like L. Ron Hubbard could establish something like the Church of Scientology. I didn’t just read about people like him. I went to his headquarters in Washington, D.C. and saw for myself how his trained adherents (who are not paid, but required to pay) take in newcomers and mold them. I also got a copy of Hubbard’s book Dianetics. My attitude was completely neutral towards everyone in his congregation, but my mind was on high alert.
While at this Church of Scientology back in 1980, I couldn’t help but notice that others were not seeing what I saw. For example, I immediately thought it strange that a church member stuck to me like Velcro everywhere I went inside the building — even when going to the ladies room (thankfully not including the bathroom stall). The other weird thing was how much everyone seemed to behave like automated robots there; as if there was a brain turn-off valve when entering through the doors. The word clear kept being repeated. One particular thing which sticks in my memory was an obese Scientology woman (who also smoked) that began to lecture me on how well being cleared works. Somehow she was blind to seeing that she wasn’t free of her bad habits (candy wrappers piled on her desk, cigarette butts in her ash tray, etc.).
To summarize my observations about Scientology, I’ll say this: For what was required from its members, it sure was not an even exchange in return. Thankfully, I was not foolish enough to give them personal information about myself. I think I may have been the only one going into the place wondering what do they want from me and why do they want me to join them? Being a socially unpopular Aspie causes red flags to easily fly in such situations, especially when people are acting like they’re so glad to have you as part of their team.
Anyhow, my point is I know the characteristics of cult leaders and cult followers. At one time, I even seriously considered becoming a professional deprogrammer for family members rescued from cults (dangerous job). It’s also not a Christian’s place to persecute an individual, but it’s something to expect from others when living by the spirit; as stated in Galatians 4:29,
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”
Even though my husband¹ has never had any interest in analyzing what others are up to, he is good at detecting what a person is like and has no problem with being honest about it. Since he has listened to Harold Camping on the radio quite a bit, I asked him if he thought Mr. Camping sounds like a cult leader. His impression of this 87 year old man is that he is a person who stands by his convictions and is not a cult leader. For Harold Camping to gain my husband’s respect says a lot, especially since hubby is a stern judge of character.
Because Camping published a book (back in 1992) like 1994?² speculating the possibility of Christ’s return being in that year, many ignore the question mark after the date. In spite of the book lacking enough information to be more accurate, there is a lot of useful information to be gleaned from between its covers. They say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
When it comes to progressive revelations having to do with a complex study like eschatology, a different approach is needed. More than anything, that’s when you can’t afford to be too quick to judge how God has buried His seals in His word for the right time of opening. It also might not be wise to be overly confident when attacking doctrine you don’t agree with.
Don’t forget what’s said in Acts 5:38-39,
“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
I personally don’t want to be held on the same level of accountability as teachers of the bible are. However, I also don’t want to be lukewarm either. I cannot fear the humiliation of what mankind could inflict upon me when my greater fear is towards being disobedient towards God’s will.
Another opinion of mine is that I think a lot of Christians avoid wanting to believe it’s possible to narrow down a time for Christ’s return and/or the end of this world because they’d rather be socially pleasing than be potentially perceived as being a nut or heretic.
If you were a thief in the night, would you want it to be known when you’d be arriving?
¹If it’s relevant, his IQ is 149.
²All of the books printed by Family Radio and/or written by Harold Camping are available for free (except for 1994? since that is no longer being printed). There was a short period of time when books like Time Has an End were only available for purchase at online retailers and in bookstores. The reason they became available to the public that way, rather than sent free by request from Family Radio first, was so that more people would know of its existence. Once it become known, then it became available at no cost.
I only have four pictures of myself on a horse before the time I finally had my own horse at age fourteen. Unfortunately the photos are very poor quality.
Getting to borrow horses which belong to others is an exceptional treat, especially when you’re able to keep them for a summer and on up to over a year!
I wasn’t told who the other two girls are, but I know that’s me up front on the farm horse and my dad standing by.
I’d have to guess the man leading the horse was my uncle. Most likely the girl behind me is my cousin.
It wasn’t until I was seven when I could ride unsupervised wherever I wanted for however long I chose. All of the above shots were taken in Rorkton, Manitoba, Canada.
None of the horses I got to ride had saddles, but that’s the way I prefer it. Don’t be fooled by my lack of smiling in these photos. I’ve always disliked being in front of a camera and/or mirror, but love horseback riding.
Yes, NTs do lack empathy in comparison to Aspies. Read about it in the new groundbreaking study reported by Maia Szalavitz (of the Daily Beast), published on May 14, 2009, at www.HealthZone.ca in an article titled Asperger’s theory does about-face: Rather than ignoring others, researchers think spectrum sufferers care too much.
Whether you claim people on the autism spectrum are over-sensitive (care too much?!?!?) or NTs are not sensitive enough (i.e., NT spectrum sufferers can’t care enough) is all relative. It’s like choosing to say something is cheap verses inexpensive. Descriptions determine the initial impression.
I’m not saying NTs lack empathy to give the impression that Aspies are superior. My motive is to shock first, then balance out the damage already done by libelous reports spread around claiming that AS people lack empathy. I also need to get it through my thick skull, once and for all, that most people are not as sensitive as I am and they are not able to realize the existence of a culture comprised of individuals with an empathy level beyond what they can comprehend.
What I have trouble comprehending is why theories are published when facts can be gotten straight from the source BEFORE false statements about a minority get established and abusive. The theory from my research suggests credentials are everything to neurotypicals.
My favorite part of Szalavitz’s article on Aspies being highly empathetic is where Schwars says,
When it comes to not understanding the inner state of minds too different from our own, most people also do a lousy job, Schwarz says. “But the non-autistic majority gets a free pass because, if they assume that the other person’s mind works like their own, they have a much better chance of being right.”
The whole article would be great if only the bias for NTs was left out, but I guess that’s to be expected from insensitive people. I won’t point out the words which reveal this, because if you can’t see where they are, then it should make you realize you’re really suffering from a lack of empathy.
This explains why it is that the more people there are at a social gathering, the more I become a wallflower:
“I can walk into a room and feel what everyone is feeling,” Kamila Markram says. “The problem is that it all comes in faster than I can process it. There are those who say autistic people don’t feel enough. We’re saying exactly the opposite: They feel too much.”
Said another, “I am clueless when it comes to reading subtle cues but I am very empathic. I can walk into a room and feel what everyone is feeling and I think this is actually quite common in AS/autism. The problem is that it all comes in faster than I can process it.”
Studies have found that when people are overwhelmed by empathetic feelings, they tend to pull back. When someone else’s pain affects you deeply, it can be hard to reach out rather than turn away.
This explains why I’m generally able to comprehend human behavior better than most others:
Schwarz, of the New England Asperger’s association, says all the autistic adults he knows over the age of 18 have a better sense of what others know than the Sally/Anne test suggests.
I can’t even describe how closely I relate with this statement:
“If anything, I struggle with having too much empathy,” one person says. “If someone else is upset, I am upset. There were times during school when other people were misbehaving and, if the teacher scolded them, I felt like they were scolding me.”
No wonder NTs come up with such statements as the “intense world” theory for non-NTs. For those who live in a more careless state of being, I can see how they’d refer to a heightened awareness as being intense. It also makes sense why even my dreams are more vivid than what most people have.
Actually, I normally have night terrors or nightmares. Rarely do I ever get to experience a nice dream. I don’t know what to call the dream I awoke with this morning. What’s more interesting though is the first verse I read in my bible study for today.
My dreams are always vivid and even include my other senses. In them, I can smell scents, taste things, feel temperature changes, hear sounds (like my heart beating or the wind blowing), and see colors in detail. Even more powerful than those common senses, I pick up on another sense. There is no way to prove what that is, but my guess is it’s spiritual.
In this morning’s episode (which was surprisingly ‘mild’), there was a malicious man determined to do what he could to ruin my life. He tried to intimidate me and upset me by the way he spoke. I could feel murder was in his heart. It was odd that I didn’t run from him. Before I walked away, I calmly told him, “You’re no match for God.” (I wasn’t implying I’m God; I said that because I knew God was protecting me.)
I have had dreams before which contained Christian faith, but usually they were when I was listening to the bible while asleep with headphones on. It’s been a long while since I’ve done that though. Besides that change, my insomnia¹ is slowly fading away!
Anyhow, the interesting coincidence this morning was when I opened up my bible shortly after awakening and read Psalm 140:1-3,
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips.
Verse 12,
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
must have already been established in my heart (by the grace of God) to cause a new and improved dream compared to what I’m used to having. Who knows?… maybe there’s hope for me to finally have restful sleep. I can dream, can’t I?
¹That has now lasted approximately ¼th of a century.
Don’t even think that the Autism Society of America does what it can to support people on the autism spectrum. If it was true that they did, I wouldn’t have had this experience with their Hudson Valley Chapter [included in my Self-consciousness vs. self-awareness/other awareness post published on April 30, 2009]:
While I was at the 2009 annual Walk for Autism, I went up to a booth, of the local sub-chapter (of a high society organization ‘for’ Autism), to inquire why they had stopped responding to my e-mails sent over a year ago when I asked about them about including a link to the adult Aspie group’s weblog I attend.¹ They originally told me it was a wonderful idea. I had told them the link would benefit many adults on the spectrum if it was included on their website. Since that link never appeared and I had the chance to talk with them in person, I suggested it again. Again, I was told it was a good idea and that I should put information about this group into their suggestion box. When I came back with the brochure to give them, I was told they would bring it up at their next board meeting. I knew they’d never include that link even before I asked them the first time around. The only reason I pursued this was to confirm data in my own mind about the social behavior of humans.
Later, I was overheard talking about this incident. I didn’t think I did anything unusual. Apparently I had. The ’socially incorrect’ thing I did was to confront them by pointing out that my e-mails were ignored; plus, I had the nerve to persist in spite of what should have been an obvious hint that what’s going on is a political affair I’m not welcome to attend. I was supposed to be intimidated by them, but since I wasn’t self-conscious, they were the ones who felt offended by my ‘rude’ behavior. I think that’s hilarious!
The Autism Society of America isn’t the only hornet’s nest of greed. Here’s something not so hilarious, but rather nauseating:
Make Autism Speaks $1,000 more wealthy and become a member of their exclusive VIP Club. Yipee!… $150 will get you a T-shirt! I bet the wearers of such T-shirts are too stupid and/or careless to realize they’re wearing a sticker on their back that says, “I’m a sucker. Kick me.”
¹What would happen if everyone who really cares about Aspies were to contact this society to ask them for information about an adult Asperger group in the Hudson Valley area that meets between New York City and Albany and then ask them why they don’t have any information about this group on their website? Wouldn’t you be interested to hear what story they contrive?
How do you know you’re a saved Christian if you’ve never become one? It’s like youngsters who think they’re in love, when in reality they’re infatuated. You don’t know the real deal until you’ve experienced it. Meanwhile, it’s impossible to realize you don’t have what you think you have. It doesn’t even seem to make sense to write about this, except for maybe those who know what I’m talking about might feel less alone.
There are no words powerful enough to destroy the power of self-deception. Even reading the bible countless times over and over can’t do it. Until God humiliatingly breaks a person completely down and supernaturally takes over his soul, the will of man is fully capable of playing any role. Only after you’re off the stage do you see how vacant the landscape is of those who live.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
— 2 Corinthians 6:1
Even though Mother’s Day was four days ago, I think it would be good to share what can be the outcome of an Aspie mom raising an NT daughter. Here are her own words written to me in the card I received this past Mother’s Day:
“Mom, I feel so lucky that God has blessed us with such a close relationship. I could put all my ‘friends’ I’ve ever made together and it still wouldn’t be as close of a relationship. I love sharing books and movies with you in this world and I think we will be best friends in the next ~ I love you.”
My daughter has made many friends in her 26 years of living, so for her to say what she did touches me deeply. The card she chose says, “Thank you for all your wisdom, all your guidance, all your prayers. You are a gift from God. Happy Mother’s Day.”
I hope this post brings encouragement to all the other Aspie moms out there who might be struggling through the difficult times of child rearing, especially under the extra burdens brought on by those who mistakenly think that a neurotypical parent can do a better job at raising children than an Aspie.
