🚨 New publication 🚨 One of our PhD researchers, Lizzy Peach, has recently published an article in the Journal of Practical Theology titled: Autistic Christians and their experiences of faith, worship, and community in Evangelical churches in the UK www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Explore more about what celebrating the image of God in everybody means in worship with @autismtheology.bsky.social Director, Dr Leon Van Ommen at @sarumcollege.bsky.social online on 9th Oct: www.sarum.ac.uk/short-course...

"Empathy can be developed and discerned, even when there is a significant barrier in language and lifeworld. It can contribute to the kind of understanding needed for the task of practical theology." aura.abdn.ac.uk/server/api/core/bitstreams/ad3d9948-b819-4693-a541-03668a0e9158/content

Faith on the Margins: Engaging with Nonspeaking and Black Autistic Christians 5th-7th November 2025, 11am-5pm (GMT) 🌐 Register here: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=rRkrjJxf1EmQdz7Dz8UrPzNFa7ljapNItVtbi6_NWAZUNkw1Qko3OUVTRVZNOTJWVjlITDhSSFpCNy4u

This week's quote is from a chapter by Léon van Ommen and Krysia Waldock. "...differences are not going away. But when non-autistic people get to know autistic people, they will also start to value autistic people and appreciate their gifts." wipfandstock.com/9798385203321/pathways-to-belonging/

Can you believe we have been running the Autism and Theology Podcast for 2 years?! In this month's CATChat episode, we reflect on the last year and look ahead to what we have planned for this coming year. Listen: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript: share.transistor.fm/s/e2c18781/t...

We had a fantastic time at the Ecclesiology and Ethnography conference in Durham last week! It was a great opportunity to showcase some of the Centre’s work and hear from so many interesting scholars researching people and the church.

This week's quote is from Henna Cundill. God has always been attentive to those who feel divergent. While the media circus may be new, we can be sure that God has always been attentive to those with ADHD. seenandunseen.com/paying-attention-adhd-it-really-just-fad

Faith on the Margins: Engaging with Nonspeaking and Black Autistic Christians 5th-7th November 2025, 11am-5pm (GMT) 🌐 Register here: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=rRkrjJxf1EmQdz7Dz8UrPzNFa7ljapNItVtbi6_NWAZUNkw1Qko3OUVTRVZNOTJWVjlITDhSSFpCNy4u #autism #autismtheology #autismchurch

This week's quote is from an article on dyslexia and reading the Bible by Zoe Strong and Léon van Ommen. Read the article here: tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/23312521.2022.2041531?needAccess=true

On this month's episode of the Autism and Theology podcast, Krysia speaks with Brian Irvine from the Centre for Research in Autism and Education. They discuss perceptual processing and faith. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/5e25cac1/t...

What does autism contribute to your research? Hear from a few of our researchers at the Centre about their experiences. Watch the full video and more here: youtu.be/QrYOzJoYD7M?...

This quote is by Léon van Ommen and Krysia Waldock. "Rather than focusing on inclusion checklists and goals, churches should learn to come alongside and deeply reflect on how we ‘do church’ and what we all bring to this thing we call ‘church’" wipfandstock.com/9798385203321/pathways-to-belonging/

A clip from our latest podcast episode with Luke Aylen 🎙️ Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/4c1d67cc/t... Get the book here: spckpublishing.co.uk/the-forgotten-palace

The Centre for Autism and Theology has a number of researchers exploring topics ranging from worship and the senses, leadership, and other types of neurodiversity such as dyslexia and ADHD 📚 Interested in studying with us? Email [email protected]

This week's quote is from an article by our co-director, Grant Macaskill. "Where Christians undervalue others because they do not fit a certain expectation of how a believer will look and sound, something is functioning as an idol." Read the article here: doi.org/10.1080/2331...

In this month's CATChat episode, Ian, Krysia and Zoe reflect on autism and temperature sensitivity. They also discuss how churches can be aware of this and support congregation members. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript: share.transistor.fm/s/dfe08f50/t...

Have you had a look at the Faith and Our Senses Bible Study yet? 📚 Find out more: www.autismchurch.com/resources

This week's quote is from an article by Paula Duncan and Zoe Strong where they explore humour and the importance of challenging stereotypes and misconceptions in mental health and neurodivergence. Read it here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23312521.2024.2441436

One of our researchers, Dr Henna Cundill, is speaking at an online event. This is not an event run by the Centre but we are sure it will be of interest to many of our followers. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, 3rd September 2025 1:00–2:00pm us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6CfFl23VQoGdZ8YKLCLZ8Q

The following conference may be of interest to some of our followers. Please note that this is not run by the Centre for Autism and Theology, and any questions should be directed to [email protected]

This week's quote is by Henna Cundill and Léon van Ommen empathy is important for understanding what kind of change practical theologians should seek to make, taking into account different perspectives, including members of the Christian community who find themselves marginalized

On this month's episode of the Autism and Theology podcast, we hear from Luke Aylen who shares about writing a neurodivergent fictional character for his children's book, The Forgotten Palace. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: spckpublishing.co.uk/the-forgotten-palace

In July, our co-director, Léon, had the privilege of speaking at the Church of Pentecost UK’s Breakfast Meeting in Glasgow. He shared on the topic: ‘Understanding Autism in God’s Family.’

This week's quote is from Henna Cundill "When a large proportion of the population starts to experience the same disablement, it becomes economically worthwhile for employers or other authorities to address the problem" seenandunseen.com/we-dont-have-over-diagnosis-problem-we-have-society-problem

At our webinar in June we had the pleasure of hearing from Dr Krysia Waldock on 'The 'Impossible Subjects'? Exploring autistic people's inclusion and belonging' You can watch the full webinar here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wNB1W2KvU&list=PLmKrFyUVrIH74-RZvegXzmwxufEHJfQGo&index=1

Our quote this week is from our co-director Léon van Ommen's book, Autism and Worship. "a particular way of being in the world, even when that differs from the norms of the group, does not mean less valuable." Get the book here: www.baylorpress.com/9781481319898/autism-and-worship/

Over the last few months, the Centre’s podcast has been running a series on mental health and autism. We hope our listeners have found the series valuble. You can listen to all the episodes here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcripts are available in the show notes.

One of our researchers, Henna Cundill, has written a new piece for Seen&Unseen on the topic of “over diagnosis” You can also listen to our podcast episode with Grant Macaskill where he speaks about autism, diagnosis, and mental health 🎙️: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6

🚨Call for participants🚨 Do you have ADHD, attend the Church of Scotland, and would like to take part in a discussion group? Dr Henna Cundill is looking for participants. If you’re interested, please email [email protected] for more information

Are you: ⭐the parent of an autistic child and their neurotypical sibling (both 5 - 12 years & within 5 years of each other)? ⭐in Scotland? We are recruiting for a study looking at how parents support autistic children and their siblings to play together. More info/register interest: edin.ac/4mWJsrw

This week's quote is by Léon van Ommen and Henna Cundill. "...valuing what non- or minimally-speaking autistic people bring to the worship service may require a willingness to do things differently, or to think differently about what is taking place." aura.abdn.ac.uk/handle/2164/23783

In this month's CATChat episode, we are wrapping up out mental health series with our reflections and highlights from the last 3 months. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/bb20c233/transcript.txt

The Autism and Theology Podcast 🎙️📚 Did you know we have a podcast? We’re always looking for new topics, so let us know in the comments what you’d like to hear covered in future episodes! Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 (Transcripts can be found in the show notes)

This week's quote is from an article by our researchers, Léon van Ommen, Ian Lasch, Bryan W. Fowler, Henna J. Cundill and Christopher Barber, which reviews the field of Autism and Theology. aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2164/24992/Van-Ommen_etal_TiS_Autism_Theology_VOR.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

We are pleased to share the recording from our June webinar with Dr Krysia Waldock on 'The 'Impossible Subjects'? Exploring autistic people's inclusion and belonging' www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wN...

In May Aberdeen’s divinity department hosted a symposium for our postgraduate research students. It was a great opportunity for some of the Centre’s distance and on campus students to meet together in person! Pictured are the Centre’s researchers who attended the symposium.

This week's quote is from our co-director, Grant Macaskill's article on Joy and Autism: Read here: aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2164/16223/Macaskill_JDR_JoyAndAutism_AAM.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

In this episode of our mental health series, Zoe is joined by Grant Macaskill to discuss autism, pathways to diagnosis, and mental health. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/db240881/t...

Last week the annual conference of the Institute on Theology and Disability took place in Denver. A good number of past, present, and future Aberdeen students and researchers were present, many of whom are involved with the Centre for Autism and Theology!

This week's quote is from Léon van Ommen and Krysia Waldock's book chapter: In the Beginning Were Autistic People and They Belonged. (quote written on thread) wipfandstock.com/9798385203321/pathways-to-belonging/

Last week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Professor Annalu Waller on doing research with non-or minimally-speaking autistic people. It was great to hear about Prof. Waller’s work at the University of Dundee’s School of Science and Engineering and spend time discussing inclusive research.

In this month's CATChat episode, we are continuing our mental health series with a conversation on autism and tiredness. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/cd1e5ef2/t...

Excited to share: Our article on neurodiversity in postgraduate research is featured by @tandfonline for #AutisticPrideDay! Join us in celebrating diverse perspectives in academia invt.io/1txb5cnodlb

This week's quote is from one of our Masters students, Sarah Douglas, who has contributed a chapter to 'The Double Empathy Reader.' Read here: pavpub.com/health-and-social-care/health-autism/the-double-empathy-reader?srsltid=AfmBOoqlN-MfHpoGx9ergzNhAwpT4bDzwe0EdKNDrlX-kKT5H9Rn1x1z

There’s still time to register for our webinar with Dr Krysia Waldock, taking place at 4pm today!

We’re looking forward to hearing from Dr Krysia Waldock on Thursday! Register here: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=rRkrjJxf1EmQdz7Dz8UrPzNFa7ljapNItVtbi6_NWAZUMlNRRklWUTJaR1NFT1ZTU1VNNTdWTFBBWC4u

In May we had the pleasure of hosting a research seminar with Professor Miroslav Volf about his book ‘Exclusion and Embrace’ while he was in Aberdeen for the Gifford Lectures 📚

This week's quote is from an article on autism and D&D by one of our PhD researchers, Harry Gibbins. "D&D highlights the strength storytelling, narrative building, and art in all its forms, have for those who are coming to terms with their identity." www.seenandunseen.com/table-top-ph...

In this month's episode of the Autism and Theology podcast, we are continuing our mental health series with a discussion on anxiety and the autistic experience with Maddy Schofield and Cody Crawshaw. Listen here: tr.ee/v1JmTAcjX6 Transcript here: share.transistor.fm/s/67b95381/t...