Early Filipinos practiced an animistic religion before the introduction of major world religions. Islam gained prominence in Mindanao and Sulu after Arab traders arrived, while Christianity took hold nationwide after the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Religious practices in the Philippines often blend elements of introduced faiths with indigenous folk beliefs. The country's constitution established the separation of church and state, though clergy have advocated on social issues. Studies show Filipino religiosity is influenced by various demographic factors and remains an important part of culture today.

1. CHAPTER 12:
RELIGION

2. RELIGIOUS PATTERNS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 Early Filipinos believed in spirits called anitos, who
formed a hierarchy of deities in a type of animistic
religion.
 Arab traders introduced Islam to the Philippines w
hich gained a stronghold in Mindanao and Sulu.
 Islam is an Arabic word meaning “peace and
submission to the will of God and obedience to His l
aws.”

3.  In 1521, when Magellan landed in the country,
Christianity was introduced to the Philippines
 In 1899, when Spain ceded the Philippines to
the USA (Spanish-American war). Many
American chaplains mostly from the Navy,
stayed to preach their faith, Protestantism.

4.  Many Protestant groups in Philippines grew and cov
ered variety of beliefs and structures.
Pentecostals- stress emotional expression which t
hey view as a visitation of the Holy Spirit.
 Gregorio Aglipay- founder of Philippine Indepe
ndent Church

5. Iglesia ni Kristo
- founded by Felix Manalo in 1914
There have also been a number of messianic move
ments which are in the nature of socio-religious pr
otest.
• Oosterval (1968:45) pointed out that these mo
vements are strongly syncretic blending ancient
folk beliefs with practices of Roman Catholic Rel
igion.

6. • Lapiang Malaya
• Good Wisdom for All Nations

7. SEPARATION OF CHURCH
AND STATE

8. • Malolos Constitution of 1898.
Article 6 of 1987 Constitution provid
es that, “The separation of Church a
nd State shall be inviolable.”

9. • During the term of President Marcos, the church
and state were in constant conflict over social inj
ustice, violation of human rights and graft and co
rruption.
• Cardinal Sin, denounced state violence and e
njoined the people to the use the parliament
of the streets.
• 1984- Pres. Marcos accused the church in“p
oliticizing the pulpit”.

10. • Bishop Bacani (1987:43-44) point
ed out that since politics is the d
ynamic organization of the whole
society then priest should be inv
olved just like the other citizen.

11. • Separation of the church recurre
d during national elections in 19
92,1998, 2001.
• Catholic Bishops Conference of t
he Philippines

12. • Antonio Franco, the Papal Nunci
o in Manila
• The roles of the church and the s
tate are complementary and overl
apping
• F.C. Borlongan (1998:11)

13. FOLK CATHOLICISM
OR FOLK PROTESTANTISM

14. • Folk Catholicism or Folk Protesta
ntism
- refers to beliefs and practices of in
digenous origin that are woven into
Christian practices.

15. DISTINCTION OF CATHOLICISM
Official Catholicism- refers to the doc
trines and rituals, which are prescribe
d, approved of
Non-Official Catholicism
- comprises the elements, which are
viewed as harmless but suspect and
unorthodox

16. • According to Pal, the barrio folks
revolves around the will of Bathal
a, their Supreme God.

17. SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY

18. • Fr. Bulatao (1996:2-5) split-level C
hristianity as the situations where
two or more thought-and-behavi
or systems which are inconsistent
with each other coexist with the s
ame person.

19. THE OCCULT: MAGIC AND
FAITH HEALING

20. • Magic is still commonly practiced in some barr
ios in the country. This involves manipulating t
he supernatural forces for good or evil.
• Manghuhula
- a person who is believed to possess psychic po
wer
• Faith healer
is a person who serves as a medium for healing
energy.

21. SOCIAL CHANGE
AND RELIGION

22. Dr. Roberto Salazar - a study of th
e fundamentalists, also referred to a
s ‘born-again christians’.

23. • In Roman Catholic church, there have been sig
nificant changes following Vatican II
.
• Instead of saying mass in Latin, English is now us
ed.
• The laity can now participate in celebrating churc
h rites and given more Eucharistic privileges
• Modern church music is now used and have been
translated into local dialects.
• New rules on marriage and annulment have been
proclaimed

24. National Secretariat of Social Acti
on (NASSA)
• Irrigation
• Fishing
• nutrition and cottage industries
• promotion of improved varieties o
f seeds and breeds for agricultural
and livestock production.

25. • Univeristy of Sto. Tomas Social Res
earch Center conducted research
on the religiosity of the Filipino yo
uth (15 to 24)

26. • Abad found that relationship with G
od and the religious practices are the
twin unifying elemtns in Filipino relig
iosity.; these cut across demographic
groups.

27. PATTERNS OF VARIATION
• Gender and religiosity
• Age and religiosity
• Class and religiosity
• Education and religiosity
• Locale and religiosity

28. RELIGION IN THE 21ST
CENTURY

29. • What is the state of religion in
the 21st century?
• Has the role of religion in
people’s lives diminished?

30. • Ecumenism
- the principle or aim of promoting
unity among the world's Christian
Churches.