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Mental retardation (MR) is a cultural concept Ideological orientations and provisions available in a society for its members give rise to such concepts. That is why, in different eras we have different connotations like moron, imbecile, subnormal, idiot and retarded. The most recent attempt has been to propagate the phrase ‘developmentally handicapped’ for these children who are differently able. It has been a general myth that a retarded child cannot free herself from the mental barricade. But that is not at all true. There is considerable ignorance amongst the general public about the behaviour and special talents of these children whom society has always misunderstood and marginalised. Teachers and parents are also not free from negative attitudes towards these children.

Foster and Moran (1985) assert that a convergence between Piaget's theory and the teaching style of Jesus will give us confidence in Piagetian theory. This response challenges their assertion on the grounds that: (a) the task of Christian psychology is to unfold the psychological dimension of God's creation, (b) it is inappropriate to use the Bible to confirm a psychological theory, and (c) critical analysis is what is needed in order to gain confidence in psychological theories. This response concludes that: (a) the approach taken by Foster and Moran (1985) hides certain weaknesses in Piaget's theory in the garb of biblical language, and (b) the Christian psychological community should engage in the critical analysis of psychological theories before it looks for biblical convergences.