SSLA, SDA take religion to the deaf

THERE was a time when some communities believed that deaf people could not find salvation as they could not hear God’s Word.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case and several religions world over now cater for the deaf.

In Zimbabwe the birth of the Sunrise Sign Language Academy (SSLA), an institution that trains sign language, is taking this effort further.

SSLA has partnered the Seventh-day Adventist Church and opened a church for the deaf.

SSLA founder and chair Mr Douglas Mapeta says: “Ninety-five percent of deaf children are born into hearing families. But only ten percent of their parents learn enough sign language to have a conversation about complex religious concepts with their deaf children.

“And while many deaf people attend church regularly with their hearing families, they find themselves equally isolated at church since most churches do not have sufficient involvement of sign language interpreters to facilitate a fundamental understanding of their faith to the deaf in attendance.”

He points out that Zimbabwe’s Constitution now clearly states there should be equal opportunities between the able-bodied and the disabled, and that sign language is officially recognised as a national language. THE religion of Islam preaches about equality and fairness. No human being is superior to another, all men are created equal and every individual born to the same rights as any other person.

As Muslims we treat deaf people with special care. We

“As a result, the deaf often decide that church is something hearing people do, because there is nothing substantial they can understand from attending church services.”

According SSLA’s research, spiritual beliefs lead to enjoying a longer and healthier life. Their research has discovered that religious people are less prone to depression and are less likely to abuse alcohol and narcotics.

One study has found that people who attend religious services once a week or more live, on average, seven years longer.

“With so much at stake, we members of both deaf and hearing churches must find ways to encourage more deaf people to attend church and become involved in religious fellowship.

“It’s very unfortunate; people who can hear often do not understand the deaf. Most deaf people communicate through sign language. But contrary to popular belief, sign language is not based on written or spoken English or Shona, it is a standalone language.

“It is a visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head, shoulder and other movements of the body and morphemes,” adds Mr Mapeta.

“While reading a script of the EACH ethnic or religious culture has a scriptural basis, that is, each community has a Holy book that they believe was divinely transmitted, and which serves as a basis for their liturgy and communal history.

The Jews have the Torah (Five Books of Moses), and the Talmud, Shulchan Arukh, and other commentaries that provide a comprehensive guide to beliefs, morality, and everyday conduct.

They use various editions of the Siddur (prayer book).

The scriptural basis of Christianity is the Bible, called the Old and New Testaments, although innumerable versions and translations abound.

Catholics have the Douai Bible, the long tradition of canon law, and the missal; Protestants use various editions of the Christian Bible, and various prayer books and hymnals.

The Amish have their own German liturgy and church government. Anglicans have the Book of Common Prayer.

sermon would technically provide access to the sermon, for optimal comprehension, the deaf prefer sign language (visual communication) over written forms of communication. They ‘ hear’ with their eyes,” Mr Mapeta explains.

“Though some churches do offer skilled sign language interpreters, their service to the church rarely extends beyond interpreting the weekly church

Mormons have the Book of Mormon while Hindus have the Bhagavad-Gita.

Muslims have the Koran while the American Indians maintained a variety of beliefs, including the familiar Great Spirit.

There is no “deaf religion” there is no “deaf God,” no “deaf gospel,” no special liturgy, and no set of beliefs unique to the deaf community.

Unlike the Mormons, there is no “deaf Prophet” who is revered as having received the Word of God from heaven or an angel.

Deaf people utilise the same scriptures and liturgies used by hearing people.

They may attend a Deaf church, or a “hearing” church that has interpreted services, they may attend one without any interpreter, or may not attend church at all.

Note that deaf churches are almost invariably offshoots of established churches, such as the Seventh-day or Roman Catholic. Deafculture.com

service.

It limits the deaf’s access to outside religious study and participation in the church’s community life like Bible study, retreats, and volunteer opportunities such as visiting the sick among other gatherings.”

SSLA will be working with ministers from willing religions to bridge the communication gap between the deaf and those who hear.

Pastor Jimikiel Chinuwo, who ministers to the deaf, says people ought not to use denigratory terms like “zvimumumu” and “matsi” when referring to the deaf.

“For example, religious workshops specifically designed for the deaf are a fantastic way to introduce members of the deaf community to religion in a meaningful way,” he says, quoting Leviticus 19:14

Adaptations may be made for prayer. Islamic resources have been made available in alternative forms and many different Islamic resources are available to help. Sheikh Sikacha is from the Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars