Assessing Levels of Religious Tolerance and Intolerance in the Current Socio-Cultural Setting

Abstract

The Philippines has been a melting pot of various religions, from the time our ancestors worshipped the Anitos, to the time the Spaniards came and introduced Christianity, up to the present time of millenarian movements. Due to the religious diversity in the country, the question of whether Filipinos can be considered religiously tolerant or intolerant arises. This study entitled Assessing Levels of Religious Tolerance and Intolerance in the Current Socio-Cultural Setting has been an interesting attempt to determine to a certain extent the attitudes and behavior of four religious denominations, namely the Roman Catholic, the Seven Day Adventist, Bethany Baptist, and the Iglesia ni Kristo, with regards to people who do not belong to their religion and their corresponding beliefs and practices. In addition, their views regarding matters concerning their religion and of conversion to another religion, are probed into. Believers or practitioners of these religious groups were further divided into two age groups: the young, which included those whose ages are 20 — 35 and the o/d who are aged 36 — 50. They are picked from a relatively close area and therefore enjoying the same socio — cultural make-up. Preliminary data was gathered through the books, journals, and related materials available. From these, the theoretical frameworks and related literature was derived. Collection of data was also done through dissemination of survey questionnaires to corresponding respondents. Since there is a rarity in the studies that have been made regarding this matter, this is a descriptive, exploratory study. Furthermore, it is nonexperimental yet cross-cultural in nature. The study confirmed results that Filipinos show quite a high degree of tolerance despite the fact that there is a diversity of religions; especially the respondents of the Catholic denominations and the Seven Day Adventist. On the other hand, the Baptists and the respondents from the Iglesia ni Cristo are considered the most intolerant among the four aforementioned religions. The deviation in the tolerance levels may in part be due to the difference of each religion’s set of religious representations that influence the people under it. The belief of those who belong to the Baptist group and that of the Iglesia ni Cristo that theirs is THE only true religion and that salvation cannot be achieved outside it, may cause them to think highly of their religion and thus, may lead to intolerance to other religions and the people and religious representations that it encompasses. For future studies, more comprehensive data can be gathered though interviews and focus group discussions; and if studies are conducted by the religions themselves. Likewise, leaders of various religions and their constituents must find it within themselves to develop a healthy attitude towards others of a different religious affiliation by having a deeper analysis of their religion and that of others.