God’s Not Forgotten Me
Experiencing Faith in Dementia
Foreword by John Swinton
Imprint: Cascade Books
What happens to faith if you get dementia? Does the real "you" disappear? Does your relationship with God evaporate as neurons begin to disconnect? Will you forget God? Here, the voices of Christians from the evangelical tradition bring insight to the profound questions faith encounters amidst the disorientation of dementia: ". . . even when my brain falls apart . . . nothing can separate me from the love of God . . . faith is stronger." 'Tricia Williams seeks deeper understanding of their faith experience and practice through careful listening and theological reflection within the boundaries of a biblical agenda: who I am, knowing God, experience and practice of faith, the shadows of suffering, embodied memory, spiritual growth, and hope for now. Fresh theological insights and challenges for the church call for creative practices to nurture the faith of disciples of Jesus who live with this disease: "They must remind me." In this book, these voices reveal a growing, positive experience of faith in the light of dementia--and of hope in Christ. Faith does not end with diagnosis: "God . . . has not forgotten me."
’Tricia Williams has been deeply involved in reflection on issues of faith and dementia for several years. She has written widely on the subject, including the faith resources Being with God. This book arises from her doctoral research published as What Happens to Faith When Christians Get Dementia? (Pickwick).
“Williams has written a distinctive, accessible, moving, and spiritually hopeful account of what it means to live with dementia. With compassionate insight and theological hopefulness, Williams offers spiritual and practical support to those who care for and accompany people living with dementia.”
—Jim Gordon, Honorary Lecturer, University of Aberdeen
“We are indebted to Alice, Bill, David, Jess, Jill, Matthew, Ron, and Rosemary, faithful Christians living with dementia and willing to being in conversation with ’Tricia Williams. Grounded in their experience and through the lens of practical theology, her reflections engage with contemporary issues illuminating our understanding of who we are as Christians and how we live with the challenges of dementia.”
—David Primrose, Canon Treasurer, Lichfield Cathedral
“This welcome new resource allows us to hear the voices of evangelical Christians living with dementia. Their words, spoken to the author, are interwoven with practical theology in challenging the notion that people with dementia are less able to sense God’s presence and purpose in their lives. We see how faith can grow and deepen in dementia, providing joy, resilience, and future hope.”
—Julia Burton-Jones, Anna Chaplaincy Lead, Rochester and Canterbury Dioceses
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