The book is a theological work that investigate the liberative and the oppressive elements of the Ao Naga traditional resources towards people with disability (PwD) with the aim to envisage a Holistic mission through incorporation, reconstruction and deconstruction, and to realize an embodied humanity in the church and society.

The study has identified that traditional beliefs and practices have significantly contributed for a constructive as well as destructive approach towards PwD. The author has exposed some hard-core traditional practices that degrade and exclude PwD from the religious and secular realms. Whereas, traditions and practices that have its credibility towards PwD have been explored and supplemented.

For an authentic indigenous Christianity and a contextual mission theology, traditional resources must have consistency and a continuing relationship with scripture. The author has established and incorporated traditional resources with biblical truths, paving the way in formulating a theology that preserve traditional values, built community, and establish an authentic contextual theology relevant to the indigenous people.

The author suggests for an embodied humanity founded on the conviction that all human beings are created in the image of God with dignity and worth. Embodied humanity envisages for the inclusion of all people and recognizes that every individual is unique and has something to offer.

Contents

Acknowledgement
Foreword
List of Abbreviations
Glossary
List of Table
Introduction

Chapter 1: Understanding the Contemporary Disability Discourse

1. Introduction
2. Disability in India - A Survey
3. Defining Disability
4. Disability Study as an Academic Discourse in Context
5. Overview of the Experiences and Stigma Attached to PwD
6. Different Models in Understanding Disability
7. A Historical Overview of Disability Rights Movement
8. Disability Rights Movement and the Indian Context
9. Disability and the Indian Constitution
10. Disability and the Churches
11. Conclusion

Chapter 2: An Exploration of Traditional Resources towards Locating People with Disabilities

1. Introduction
2. Salvaging of Traditional Resources for an Authentic Indigenous Christianity
3. The Ao Traditional Resources
4. Garnering Traditional Resources in Relation to Person with Disabilities
5. Conclusion

Chapter 3: The Contextual Realities and the Voices of People with Disabilities: Field Study Analysis

1. Introduction
2. Methods Used in the Research
3. Measuring Disability in Nagaland: Some Detailed Tables
4. The Family and Disability
5. Experiences of the Disabled
6. Experiences in the Faith Community
7. Experiences in the Society
8. Disability and the Church
9. Disability and the Ao Naga Society
10. Findings and Analysis of the Field Research

Chapter 4: Biblical Perspective toward People with Disabilities

1. Introduction
2. Disability and Christian Theology and Tradition
3. Selected Texts in Relation to Disability: Old Testament Perspective
4. New Testament Perspective
5. Disability as a Consequence of Sin and Disobedience
6. Disability and its Relation to Different Dominant Theological Terms
7. The Understanding of Health and Healing
8. Conclusion

Chapter 5: Embodied Humanity: Integrating Traditional Resources with Biblical Truths for a Holistic Mission on Disability

1. Introduction
2. Christian Mission: A Methodological Concern
3. Integration of Traditional Resources with Biblical Truths
4. Embodied Humanity: Together Towards Life in Wholeness
5. Conclusion

Bibliography

Dr Watimongla Jamir hails from Mokokchung, Nagaland. She did her primary and secondary school from Kohima and completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Literature from Kohima College, Kohima. She then joined Clark Theological College (CTC), Mokokchung for her Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and thereafter completed Master of Theology (MTh) from North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS), Kolkata. After some years of teaching, she did her Doctor of Theology (DTh) from Aizawl Theological College (ATC), Aizawl, Mizoram. She has rich experience of teaching for the past 20 years in different colleges under the Senate of Serampore College (University). Presently, she is teaching at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the Department of Missiology.