Religion in the Philippines

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There are a number of religions that existed in the Philippines.

Contents 1 Ancient Indigenous Beliefs 2 Buddhism 3 Christianity 3.1 Roman Catholic Church 3.1.1 Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Philippines 3.2 Protestantism 3.2.1 Seventh-day Adventist Church 3.2.2 Aglipayanism 3.2.3 Iglesia Ni Cristo 3.2.4 Jehovah's Witnesses 3.2.5 Mormonism 3.2.6 Ang Dating Daan 4 Islam 5 Judaism 6 Sikhism and Hinduism 7 Atheism and Agnosticism

[edit] Ancient Indigenous Beliefs

Main articles: Philippine mythology, Anito, Gabâ, and Kulam

See also: Animism, Ancestor worship, and Shamanism

Animism, for lack of better terminology, can be used to describe the indigenous spiritual traditions practiced by people in the Philippines during pre-colonial times. Today, only a handful of the indigenous tribes continue to practice it. It is a collection of beliefs and cultural mores anchored in the idea that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad, and that respect be accorded to them through nature worship. These spirits all around nature are known as "diwatas", showing cultural relationship with Hinduism (Devatas). Some worship specific deities, such as the Tagalog supreme deity, Bathala, and his children Adlaw, Mayari, and Tala, or the Visayan deity Kan-Laon; while others practice Ancestor worship (anitos). Variations of animistic practices occur in different ethnic groups. Magic, chants and prayers are often key features. Its practitioners were highly respected (and some feared) in the community, as they were healers, midwives (hilot), shamans, witches and warlocks (mangkukulam), priests/priestesses (babaylan/catalonan), tribal historians and wizened elders that provided the spiritual and traditional life of the community. In the Visayan regions, there is a belief in the existence of witchcraft or kulam and mythical creatures such as the "aswang", "Nuno sa Punso" and "Bakonawa", despite the existence of the Christian and Islamic faiths.

In general, the spiritual and economic leadership in many pre-colonial Filipino ethnic groups was provided by women, as opposed to the political and military leadership according to men. Spanish occupiers during the 16th century arrived in the Philippines noting about warrior priestesses leading tribal spiritual affairs. Many were condemned as pagan heretics. Although suppresssed, these matriarchal tendencies run deep in Filipino society and can still be seen in the strong leadership roles modern Filipino women are assuming in business, politics, academia, the arts and in religious institutions.

Folk religion remains a deep source of comfort, belief and cultural pride among many Filipinos. Nominally animists constitute about one percent of the population. But animism's influence pervade daily life and practice of the colonial religions that took root in the Philippines. Elements of folk belief melded with Christian and Islamic practices to give a unique perspective on these religions.

[edit] Buddhism

See main article Buddhism in the Philippines

Buddhism in the Philippines is largely confined to the Filipino Chinese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities. There are temples in Manila, and Cebu, and other places.

[edit] Christianity

Christianity arrived in the Philippines with the landing of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In the late 16th century, soldiers and missionaries firmly planted the seeds of conversion when they officially claimed the archipelago for Spain and named it after their king. Missionary activity during the country's long colonial rule by Spain and the United States transformed the Philippines into one of the two (perhaps three, considering South Korea's growing Christian population) predominantly Christian nations in East Asia, with approximately 95% of the population belonging to the Christian faith, the other Christian nation being East Timor.

[edit] Roman Catholic Church

Main article: Roman Catholicism in the Philippines

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, with 85% of the population belonging to this faith in the Philippines. The country has a significant Spanish Catholic tradition, and Spanish style Catholicism is highly embedded in the culture, which was acquired from [priest]s or friars (prayle in Filipino) . This is shown in traditions such as Misa de Gallo, Black Nazarene procession, Santo Niño and Aguinaldo procession, where large crowds gather, honouring their patron saint/s. Processions and fiestas are conducted during feast days of the patron saints of various barrios or barangays.

Every year on October 31 to November 2, Filipino families celebrates the Day of the Dead which they spend much of the 3 days and 3 evenings visiting their ancestral graves, showing respect and honor to their departed relatives by feasting and offering prayers.

Christmas in the Philippines is a celebration spanning just more than the day itself. Many traditions and customs are associated with this grand feast, along with New Year.

[edit] Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Philippines

Main article: Roman Catholicism in The Philippines #Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The El Shaddai is a large Catholic Charismatic Renewal led by 'Brother Mike Velarde'. Other groups include Couples for Christ, Ligaya Ng Panginoon, FAMILIA Community , Bukas Loob Sa Diyos etc.

[edit] Protestantism

Main article: Protestants in the Philippines

Protestantism arrived in the Philippines with the coming of the Americans at the turn of the 20th century. In 1898, Spain lost the Philippines to the United States. After a bitter fight for independence against its new occupiers, Filipinos surrendered and were again colonized. The arrival of Protestant American missionaries soon followed.

• Jesus is Lord Movement
• Jesus Miracle Crusade
• United Methodist Church

[edit] Seventh-day Adventist Church

Main articles: Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Dia and Seventh-day Adventist Church

The church founded by Ellen G. White which is best-known for its teaching that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is the Sabbath, and that the second advent of Jesus Christ is imminent.

[edit] Aglipayanism

Main article: Iglesia Filipina Independiente

The Philippine Independent Church, more commonly known as the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, arose from a Catholic nationalist movement at the turn of the century. It is in full communion with the Philippine Episcopal Church, the rest of the Anglican Communion, and the Union of Utrecht

[edit] Iglesia Ni Cristo

Main article: Iglesia ni Cristo

An independent, nontrinitarian religious organization that was founded in the Philippines by Felix Manalo on July 27, 1914.

[edit] Jehovah's Witnesses

Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses

Missionaries of the Jehovah's Witnesses arrived in the Philippines during the American Occupation (1892-1945). They have been involved in several court controversies because of their stand on flag-saluting and blood transfusions. They are best known by their preaching in pairs from house to house. Currently there are about 130,000 members in the Philippines as of the year 2006.

[edit] Mormonism

During the Spanish-American War in 1898, two men from Utah who were members of the United States artillery battery, and who were also set apart as missionaries by the Church before they left the United States, preached while stationed in the Philippines. Missionary work ceased in the Philippines at the beginning of World War II and resumed again in 1961. In 1969, the Church had spread to eight major islands and had the highest number of baptisms of any area in the Church. The Manila Missionary Training Center was established in 1983. In 1990-91, Church relief efforts helped with the damage caused by major earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruptions, and governmental conflicts. Membership in 1984 was 76,000 and 237,000 in 1990. Today, membership is approximately 550,000.

[edit] Ang Dating Daan

Main article: Church of God International

[edit] Islam

See main article Islam in the Philippines, Bangsamoro and Filipino Muslim.

Islam reached the Philippines in the 14th century with the arrival of merchants and missionaries from the Arabian peninsula and from India. Filipino Muslims make up about five percent of the population and are concentrated in the southern island of Mindanao. The Bangsamoro or Muslim Nation, a term used to define the disparate ethnic groups that profess Islam in the Philippines as their religion, have been fighting the most protracted war of independence in world history. These include the Tausugs and the Maranaos. The Islamic separatist movement in the Philippines had been and is being waged for almost five centuries -- against the Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese and the predominantly Christian Filipinos of today's independent republic. Filipino Muslims follow the Sunni tradition. One of the more well-known Islamic separatist groups is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

[edit] Judaism

Main article: Jews in the Philippines

Since the Spanish Era, Jews have been coming in and out of the islands but were unable to establish a substantial community. During World War II, their population reached 10,000 when Jews from Europe took shelter in Manila after escaping the Holocaust. The last Temple at Taft avenue corner Quirino was demolished in the 70's. They eventually left after the creation of Israel. As of 2005, the Jewish population in the Philippines stands at the very most 500 people.

[edit] Sikhism and Hinduism

For Hinduism, see main article Hinduism in the Philippines

Hinduism in the Philippines are largely confined to the expatriate Indian community. There are temples in Manila, as well as in the provinces. There are temples also for Sikhism, sometimes located near Hindu temples. The two Paco temples are well known, comprising a Hindu temple and a Sikh temple.

[edit] Atheism and Agnosticism

There are few atheists and agnostics living in Philippines, and they make up about or less than 1% of the total population. (Text required)