Article
Religion and civic engagement: The case of Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines
Religion, State, and Society
(2016)
Abstract
The Iglesia ni Cristo is one of the fastest-growing indigenous Christian churches in the world.
They have an estimated membership of 2.25 million adherents in more than 100 countries.
In recent years its civic engagements have expanded through bigger relief operations and
charity dedicated to the poor and those affected by calamities. These initiatives are typically
articulated in terms of unity, duty, and obedience to God.
This paper gives attention to this expansion by spelling it out and explaining it in view of its
newfound role in civil society. This is an important intervention in the literature. Studies on
INC have mainly focused on its successes in the political and religious spheres. INC now
repackages itself as a civic organisation that cares about public welfare. My argument is that
this is how it manifests its new triumphalism in the Philippines, but with implications on its
expanding presence in civil society.
Keywords
- Iglesia ni Cristo,
- civic engagement,
- religion,
- civil society,
- Philippines
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
Citation Information
Jayeel S Cornelio. "Religion and civic engagement: The case of Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines" Religion, State, and Society (2016) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jayeel-cornelio/3/