Abstract
People with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), such as Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, present with difficulties in social understanding (including ‘theory of mind’), and restricted and repetitive interests. Theory of mind or ‘mentralizing’ describes the ability to understand the mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions) of others, including human or quasi-human agents in stories. Hence, it is a prerequisite for understanding religious narratives (for example, scriptures). Also, the restricted interests of people with autistic disorders are experienced as uniquely preoccupying and meaningful, and often involve non-social topics. Hence, the combination of: 1) mentralizing deficits, and 2) nonsocial restricted interests would be predicted to affect the religious and/or spiritual understanding, interests, and sensibility of people with ASD. This article considers these possibilities and proposes that further research is necessary to understand how the cognitive style of people with ASDs affects their discernments of meaning and value in life.
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