Autism and Religious Beliefs: Clues from Kafka Research

Religious beliefs and faith in high-functioning autistic persons are analyzed by discussing the work and biography of Franz Kafka. It enables researchers to differentiate between how autistic and non-autistic persons experience and express religious beliefs and spiritual issues because Kafka as an autistic person also wrote about these topics in his philosophical-religious writings. This Franz Kafka case study provides additional inner (cognitive) state input to better understand high-functioning autism. This contribution with new and different perspectives to the field of autism and religious beliefs could help to explore the varieties of religious experience and cognition, and to improve our insights in high-functioning autism.

Kafka and Autism : The Undisclosed Logic Behind Kafka's Work

In this paper the hypothesis is presented that Franz Kafka was a person with autism. This is done by analyzing and discussing his biography, letters, diaries and major works. Kafka's autism is an integral diagnosis which encompasses both his personal life and his work. This interpretation is contrary to other interpretations from the past which in all cases were only partially applicable to explain Kafka's life and work. In Kafka research the big secret of Kafka was how he was able to write he did, like no one before him had done. The function and use of parables are also discussed to support this autism hypothesis concerning Franz Kafka which ultimately makes his life and work more understandable and accessible.