Chapter 12

Religion e
- is believed to have originated from man’s
need to explain the world.
- unified system and beliefs and practices
related to sacred things, uniting into a
single moral community all those who
adhere to those beliefs and practices.
- belief in something that is more powerful
than mortals, hence a supernatural being.
Elements of Religion
Belief – practices dealing with ultimate meaning of
life.
The Sacred and the Profane – sacred referred to
supernatural while profane refers to the
irreverence for sacred things as manifested in
greed, selfishness, and adultery.
Rituals and ceremonies – observance of rituals is
important.
Examples of Rituals of the Catholics:
-The Holy Mass -Confirmation Rites -Wedding Rites
-Baptism -Station of the Cross
Moral Community
- all religions have a community of
believers who share common beliefs,
rituals to heighten group identification.

Religious Structure
- it includes body of ideas, beliefs,
dogmas, rituals, and ceremonies.
Religious Organizations

1. Church
2. Denomination
3. Sect
4. Cult
Church

• The leaders administer the sacraments

and provide members with guidance and
direction.
• This the largest and the most dominant
religious organization in the society, the
Roman Catholic.
Denomination

• Respectable organizations which has

positive relations to society.
• Some of these are the Aglipayan,
Protestant Group, and Methodists.
Sect
• Small religious group within the ecclesia which
identifies its own body of beliefs and practices.
• To this group the preservation of original beliefs
and doctrine is very important.
• For this reason, the members of the sect do not
compromise with other religious groups.
• They are smaller in number than the ecclesia.
• Ex. Iglesia Ni Cristo
Cult

• Religious group smaller than sect and

ecclesia, whose aim is to search mystical
experience.
• It lacks the organizational structure and is
mainly influenced by the presence of
charismatic leader, the main concern is
the unconventional form of worship.
• Ex. Rizalista
Functionalist Approach
1. Religion provides explanation about the
unknown and some measure of certainty
in an unknown world. It gives peace of
mind.
2. Religion gives meaning and purpose of
central beliefs.
3. Religion integrates and maintains
fundamental values.
4. Religion allays the fears and anxieties of
individuals.
5. Religion has an integrative function and is
a means of social cohesion or group
solidarity.
6. Religion performs welfare, education, and
recreation functions.
7. Religion serves as a means of social
control.
8. Religion legitimizes the foundation of the
society’s culture and integrates value
system society.
Divisions of the different religions
existing in the Philippines
Roman Catholic
Evangelical

2.80% 2.30%
Iglesia ni Kristo
2%
4.50%
5%
1.80%
Aglipayan
0.10%
0.60%
80.90% other Christian
Muslim
other
unspecified
none
Social Conflict Perspective
According to Marx:
• Opiate of the people
• Divisive factor
• Conflict between genders

Critics of Marx:
• Religion brought equality
(Abolition of slavery)
Opiate of the people
- To Marx people had the sense of reassurance
because of their religion.
- People become complacent for they were made
to believe the idea’s of an after life & sufferings
will be rewarded, & will enjoy eternal life.
- Ruling elites used religious ideology to favor the
capitalist, impede social change, dominate the
workers mislead them about their true interest.
- Social inequality is legitimized & passivity among
the workers is encouraged.
Divisive factor

• It can provide unity for those with the

same faith.
• Conflict between opposing religious
groups.
• Religion had created wars.
Conflict between genders

• In many religions, God is always a male

who is vested with power and wisdom.
• (Muslims) Koran proclaims that men take
charge over women.
• (Christians) Patriarchy is favored.
• Feminists advocated a break from the
traditional patriarchy & reforms in religious
language, symbols & rituals to eliminate
the elements of patriarchy.
Religion brought equality
(Abolition of slavery)
• Critics of Marx claim that, in many ways, religion
has brought about changes as well as equality.
• Religious groups in the United States were at
the forefront to abolish slavery.
• Many members of the clergy in the United
States, Vietnam, and the Philippines have
opposed oppression and struggled to bring
about changes in society.
Symbolic Interaction Perspective

• Focus on the meanings and

significance of the teachings, doctrines
and symbols of a religion in an
individuals life.
• Religion serves as a reference group.
Religious Patterns in the Philippines

Animistic religion:
• Early Filipinos believed in spirits called
anitos.
• Rituals where prayers and food offering to
appease the spirits.
• Amulets or Agimats were used as
protection against danger and other evils.
Islam
• An Arabic word which means
peace and submission to the
will of God and obedience to
his laws.
• 14th Century Arab traders
introduced Islam to the
Philippines and gained a
stronghold in Mindanao.
• Koran, their Holy book are
revelations of God to the
prophet Mohammed.
• Five pillars of Islam.
Christianity

• It was introduced to the

Philippines when
Magellan landed in the
country in 1521.
• More religious mission
followed to spread the
gospel and rich Christian
values.
• Friars attended the needs
of their flock both spiritual
and physical.
Other religions
• Protestantism - missionaries from the US who
came and spread their religion in the rural areas.
These early missionaries were mostly :
• Methodist
• Congregationalist
• Baptist
• Episcopalians
• Disciples of Christ
• Christian missionary alliance
• 7th day Adventists
Baptism

• The religious practice, one of the

sacrament commanded by Christ open of
sprinkling a person with water, or
immersing him in it, in the name of the
Trinity, to symbolize the washing away of
sin and to mark admission into the Church,
generally accompanied by Christening.
Methodism

• The tenets or organization of several

protestant denominations which sprang
from the revival within the church of
England led by John and Charles Wesley
from 1729.
• It has 13 ½ million members and about
two thirds being in the USA.
Congregationalism

• The doctrine of a protestant evangelical

and Trinitarian church based on this form
of Government which began in England
(1567) and gained strength in New
England of early 17th century.
Episcopalism

• The doctrine held by Gallicans that

supreme authority in the church lies with
the Bishop assembled in Council and not
(as laid down by the Vatican Council of
1870) with the Pope.
Christian missionary alliance

• Alliance of evangelical believers, joined together

in local churches, dedicated to fulfilling the great
commission given by Jesus Christ, maintain a
“big tent” stance in reference to many doctrinal
matters, encouraging believers of diverse
backgrounds and theological traditions to unite
in an alliance to know and exalt Jesus Christ and
to complete His Commission.
Disciples of Christ

• Protestant Congregationalist sect, founded

in the USA (1832).
• It adheres to the New testament,
commemorates the Lord’s supper weekly
and strives for the unity of the Christian
Church.
7th day Adventists

• A member of an Adventists sect, founded

1844 in the USA, which keeps Saturday as
the Sabbath.
 Separation of Church and State
• During 1984, at the height of Pres.
Marcos’ conflict with the church, he
accused it of “politicizing the pulpit’ and
avoid partisan politics or being based
against the government.
• He claimed that the church is breaking the
principle of the separation of church and
state.
• In response, the church maintained the
human rights violations and graft and
corruption are moral issues.
• And they are just doing their duty of
helping the exploited by (upholding)
fighting for their dignity of the person.
• According to Bishop Bacani since politics
is a dynamic organization of the society
everybody should be involved especially if
the issues are the defense of human
rights, promotion of the full development of
a person and pursuit of peace and justice.
• Cardinal Sin denounced state violence
and enjoined the people to use the
parliament of the streets.
• The church and other groups like the
Protestants National Council of Churches
of the Philippines and other non-
ecumenical groups who were critical about
martial law politics were active during
February 1986 snap elections.
• It played a crucial role in the EDSA1
revolution which overthrew Pres. Marcos.
 Folk Catholicism or Folk
Protestantism

• It refers to beliefs and practices of

indigenous origin that are woven into
Christian practices.
 Catholicism

• It refers to the doctrines and rituals which

are prescribed, approved and maintained.
• It has saints who may substitute for minor
spirits.
Split-Level Christianity
• it is where two or more thought-and-
behavior systems which are inconsistent
with each other coexist within the same
person.
Occult
• it is derived from the Latin word occultus
which means mysterious things and
practices related to supernatural forces
beyond the five senses.
Researches on Filipino Religiosity

1. Gender and religiosity

2. Ages and religiosity
3. Class and religiosity
4. Education and Religion
5. Locale and Religiosity
Gender and Religiosity

- Abad cited a previous analysis on Filipino

Religiosity by Arroyo(1992:5) which
indicated that gender is the only category
which shows a difference between males
and females, i.e., that females are more
religious than males.
Ages and Religiosity

• Expressions of religiosity are seen to

move through phases - formative, official,
and independent.
Class and religiosity

• Compared to the ABC classes and the

working D class, persons in the lower tend
to accept folk beliefs, encounter special
experiences, have a fatalistic view of life,
uphold moral norms, show a lower level of
self-efficiency, and believe in Divine
Providence.
Education and Religion

• Education has a weak association with

religiosity self-ratings and orthodoxy,
relationship with God, and belief in Divine
Providence.
Locale and Religiosity

• Rural people rate themselves as more

religious than urban residents and are
more likely to believe in Divine
Providence, take a more fatalistic view of
life, and to some extent, accept folk
beliefs.
Religion in the 21st Century

• Various church organizations are active in

social action program.
• Some cults have disappeared.
• Some preachers and programs have
become household names.
Ecumenism

• It is sort of rapprochement aimed at a

better understanding between churches
regarding beliefs and break down
prejudices in order to undertake various
social activities in the spirit of cooperation.
 The End
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