On Religion and Filipino Dehumanization and Humanization
By Glenn Plastina
As old as our religious history, the invasion by the Spanish regime has not only conquered the nation, but also the way Filipino think and lived. This long struggle is not only in political arena. It is also religious. Those were the times where the Filipino people were treated as ignorant animals and uneducated barbarians that should be Christianized by force. As far as my memory in history can go, religion was subject to many anomalies that dehumanized my ancestors.
It was the friars who betrayed the confidence of the parishioners. Some of those faithful Filipinos who have known the plans of the courageous few to resist the political and religious abuse of the Spanish regime were exposed via the confessional.
Filipino history is littered with long tradition of being people dehumanized by religion. In the first introduction of the concept of Christ, the Sto. Nino, especially in the Visayas regions, the concept of Christ was presented in a faulty perspective. Yeah, it’s true. Filipinos value their children and childhood years, but where did the concept of Christ as the Christ who can be manipulated like a child came from?
In the uttermost north of the Philippines, Batanes history in particular, priests were worshiped. When the priest passed by along the road, the people would bow down in worship and kiss the hem of his robe. No matter what anomalous activities were made in the convent, the people remained silent in fear of being condemned by the priest himself. If one person is converted to an evangelical Christianity, the person is a cast away from the family without educational support and the schools were run by the Catholic Church. There even cases where converts were persecuted, not only verbally but, physically. Many were disowned by their own relatives and family. It is good if evangelical churches can have three to four converts in a year. That was when I was there in 1998.
At present, the Roman Catholic Church was plagued by intrigues and scandals of many priests involved in sexual malpractices. But this is also true among evangelicals. There are also some Filipino self styled cults that have been questioned for abuse of power in manipulating members to choose a political figure at the right cost of bribe/offering. Iglesia Ni Cristo has been a controversial sect that solicited public criticism. On the other hand, religious leaders like M. Velarde, Abante, and others were also subjected controversies and scandal that somehow forced others to voice out their human concerns.
Among the ancient Filipino-animistic religions here in the mountainous provinces, tribal people religion has been dehumanizing in that it was used to justify violence and inhuman treatment of the outsiders and enemies. Many valued the dead, but often dishonor the living. Many are constantly living in fear. Every ritual must be performed right or the gods, spirits, and revered ancestors will be offended.
But despite of these seemingly image of religion as the main culprit, still, by the abounding grace of God, glimpse of hope is still present. If there is one instrument that has been used by God to change people’s lives and have a more and a meaningful life, certainly religion can not be denied. It is perhaps, God must have a role in establishing religion in one way or another. If it was instrumental in dehumanizing many people, it was also a haven of a comforting community for refuge, spirituality, and love.
As old as our religious history, the invasion by the Spanish regime has not only conquered the nation, but also the way Filipino think and lived. This long struggle is not only in political arena. It is also religious. Those were the times where the Filipino people were treated as ignorant animals and uneducated barbarians that should be Christianized by force. As far as my memory in history can go, religion was subject to many anomalies that dehumanized my ancestors.
It was the friars who betrayed the confidence of the parishioners. Some of those faithful Filipinos who have known the plans of the courageous few to resist the political and religious abuse of the Spanish regime were exposed via the confessional.
Filipino history is littered with long tradition of being people dehumanized by religion. In the first introduction of the concept of Christ, the Sto. Nino, especially in the Visayas regions, the concept of Christ was presented in a faulty perspective. Yeah, it’s true. Filipinos value their children and childhood years, but where did the concept of Christ as the Christ who can be manipulated like a child came from?
In the uttermost north of the Philippines, Batanes history in particular, priests were worshiped. When the priest passed by along the road, the people would bow down in worship and kiss the hem of his robe. No matter what anomalous activities were made in the convent, the people remained silent in fear of being condemned by the priest himself. If one person is converted to an evangelical Christianity, the person is a cast away from the family without educational support and the schools were run by the Catholic Church. There even cases where converts were persecuted, not only verbally but, physically. Many were disowned by their own relatives and family. It is good if evangelical churches can have three to four converts in a year. That was when I was there in 1998.
At present, the Roman Catholic Church was plagued by intrigues and scandals of many priests involved in sexual malpractices. But this is also true among evangelicals. There are also some Filipino self styled cults that have been questioned for abuse of power in manipulating members to choose a political figure at the right cost of bribe/offering. Iglesia Ni Cristo has been a controversial sect that solicited public criticism. On the other hand, religious leaders like M. Velarde, Abante, and others were also subjected controversies and scandal that somehow forced others to voice out their human concerns.
Among the ancient Filipino-animistic religions here in the mountainous provinces, tribal people religion has been dehumanizing in that it was used to justify violence and inhuman treatment of the outsiders and enemies. Many valued the dead, but often dishonor the living. Many are constantly living in fear. Every ritual must be performed right or the gods, spirits, and revered ancestors will be offended.
But despite of these seemingly image of religion as the main culprit, still, by the abounding grace of God, glimpse of hope is still present. If there is one instrument that has been used by God to change people’s lives and have a more and a meaningful life, certainly religion can not be denied. It is perhaps, God must have a role in establishing religion in one way or another. If it was instrumental in dehumanizing many people, it was also a haven of a comforting community for refuge, spirituality, and love.
posted by GlenPlas @ 12:19 AM
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