United as One: Probing the Conceptualization behind the Iglesia Ni Cristo Voters’ Choice in the 2022 National Elections

Abstract

Existing literature on Iglesia Ni Cristo focuses more on the religion as a whole. This qualitative case study sought to understand the reflections of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members who voted in the 2022 Philippine National Elections and who either complied with or deviated from the INC endorsement, which showcased the alignment of the religion’s belief in sacred unity with the endorsed candidates’ message of unity. This case study analyzed accounts of how the religion influences its members from the members’ perspective and how democracy is perceived by the members with the presence of bloc voting in the religion. The researchers collected seven (7) testimonies from registered voters in the 2022 national elections who were all active members of Iglesia Ni Cristo. The participants were chosen through non-probabilistic and purposive sampling and the data was collected through in-depth interviews. The researchers found, through relational (thematic) analysis, that those who voted according to the endorsement had strong inclinations to act as one with the Church and to act according to the mandate of the Pamamahala or the church administration. Whereas, those who deviated chose not to follow because they believed that they have their own ability to decide, contending that they cannot just obey all that the Pamamahala commands without care for consequences or without justification. Participants who voted for the INC endorsement rationalized their choice with the belief that religion was the center of their lives and that everything they must do should be according to the doctrine of the INC. In contrast, there were little to no religious reasons observed from the deviating group, as they primarily rationalized their choices through their personal political standards. The researchers also observed that the participants who deviated from the voting bloc carried a more democratic notion of unity as opposed to the vertical or top-down administration of the INC Church.