Disability and Sin: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Pastors

This qualitative study explores how contemporary pastors understand the relationship between disability and sin. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 pastors serving diverse congregations. Interview prompts addressed a hypothetical vignette of a teenager paralyzed in an automobile accident. Using multi-stage thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (1) most pastors reject a direct connection between disability and divine punishment; (2) many situate disability within the fallen world; (3) some allow for an indirect link between sin and disability when sinful behavior produces foreseeable harm; (4) few raised social or structural accounts of sin; and (5) a minority characterized the relationship as mysterious or theologically misplaced and instead prioritized relational care. Although pastors generally resisted blaming people for their disabilities, prevalent deficit-based framings and a lack of systematized theologies of disability may hinder inclusive practices. We conclude by recommending accessible theological resources and further empirical study.