tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post114614987578808711..comments2023-09-28T05:38:56.877-07:00Comments on THE FILIPINO MIND: Our Christian God, Religion and the Common Good (Updated)Bert M. Dronahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-40942002292399076192007-07-03T02:43:00.000-07:002007-07-03T02:43:00.000-07:00Hi Misot,I agree with your comments about the rece...Hi Misot,<BR/><BR/>I agree with your comments about the recent socioeconomic and political progress in Ireland. <BR/><BR/>Enlightenment do change people and usually for the better,as humans. <BR/><BR/>And sadly, with our kind of christianity, with its opposition to critical thinking (a product and consequence of enlightenment), continues to make us Filipinos the way we are.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your forwarding my posting. Thank you!<BR/><BR/>BertBert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1152239166757931322006-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:002006-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:00Ed,Define your God.BertEd,<BR/><BR/>Define your God.<BR/><BR/>BertBert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1151809437777640762006-07-01T20:03:00.000-07:002006-07-01T20:03:00.000-07:00Bert,If God asked your advise on what to do with t...Bert,<BR/>If God asked your advise on what to do with the Filipinos in the homeland, what would you tell God?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1147780389894187172006-05-16T04:53:00.000-07:002006-05-16T04:53:00.000-07:00Ogie, First, thanks for commenting. Yes, I agree w...Ogie,<BR/> <BR/>First, thanks for commenting.<BR/> <BR/>Yes, I agree with you. And we Filipinos have a long way to go (I mean generations) to attain "religious maturity" if I may say. <BR/><BR/>Though the present belief system works to create a positive illusion (it can help others personally during their times of misery or difficulties since it offers solace for one); society-wise, it has not worked for the common good. <BR/> <BR/>Religion as an institution in our homeland has been more concerned about itself than what its social teachings (some from Vatican II Council) have proclaimed and tell the clergy and followers to do; it fails to have them put such in practice. <BR/> <BR/>If the preachers themselves have immature beliefs, we can only expect such from those followers who strictly rely on them and have not used, if capable, their minds (it's still a religion of fear for most). Regards <BR/> <BR/>BertBert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1147780256120303852006-05-16T04:50:00.000-07:002006-05-16T04:50:00.000-07:00Hello Bert,Beliefs are reactions works to what has...Hello Bert,<BR/><BR/>Beliefs are reactions works to what has been and what<BR/>is.<BR/><BR/>As the world's resources grow less and population grow<BR/>more, beliefs in many things, including spirits and<BR/>Gods come to the fore.<BR/><BR/>The Christian beliefs are no exceptions. Catholics<BR/>with hard to shake beliefs may be holding on but not<BR/>for long as realities and fine reasoning are made<BR/>known to more and more people.<BR/><BR/>It has been my advocacy to look into the concept of<BR/>the Christian God and the infallibility of the bible.<BR/>It is my contention that our Catholic Philippines has<BR/>become a nightmare as the result of its biggest<BR/>destructive force which ironically can be its biggest<BR/>asset once reassessed and corrected - Christianity.<BR/><BR/>I believe if one has to change the direction of fall<BR/>of our country to one that goes upward, we need first<BR/>to settle the issues of God and the Bible.<BR/><BR/>Catholics and the Christians got God all wrong. Their<BR/>definition of God sets the average intelligent mind<BR/>into a crazy spin of confusion. Their God is in dire<BR/>need of redefinition into one that is in congruence<BR/>with the world and life's realities. The greatest<BR/>confusion coming from the dogma that God is perfect -<BR/>all knowing, all powerful, all merciful, all just,<BR/>evering in superlatives, and one who directs and helps<BR/>us grow, move and succeed.<BR/><BR/>The confusion starts from the reflection on the<BR/>perfect being, as you said, that requires rites of<BR/>praises, adoration and sacrifice. Hey, a perfect being<BR/>has everything that we can think and capable of<BR/>giving.<BR/><BR/>This confusion is multiplied into a daze of unknowing<BR/>when the Bible is read and scrutinized for consistency<BR/>and adherence to the truth. Truth asserts itself in<BR/>consistent ways. It's infallibity is challenged every<BR/>time someone goes beyond mere acceptance of the<BR/>"inspired words of the Holy Ghost" and the<BR/>completeness of its contents. Complete in every way?<BR/>As questions are asked about the bible the idea of<BR/>completely shatters in the attempt to provide answers.<BR/><BR/>A mysterious God, unaccessable, working out miracles,<BR/>speaking in parables that need an expert's translation<BR/>or interpretation, hiding from men are no longer in<BR/>the order of credibility. Unafraid to show its face to<BR/>its alleged favorite creation? Just what kind of God<BR/>is this?<BR/><BR/>The Filipinos, the whole world for that matter, need<BR/>to have a God of today and a practical bible. To have<BR/>a God of today, we need to redefine God, the<BR/>dominating Christian God the most. To have a practical<BR/>bible we need to revise the present one. One idea for<BR/>God and one guide for all are what we need to<BR/>straigthen our act toward lasting togetherness in<BR/>peace and prosperity.<BR/><BR/>OgieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1146812018415221702006-05-04T23:53:00.000-07:002006-05-04T23:53:00.000-07:00Hi Miss F,Thank you for the feedback.I think and b...Hi Miss F,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the feedback.<BR/><BR/>I think and believe many Filipino Christians do not realize that they are being immature in their beliefs, or less polite, i.e. hypocritical, a product of still medieval-like version of Christianity as taught and practiced by the Filipino clergy and their followers,i.e. the faithful. <BR/><BR/>Briefly, Vatican II back in the 1960s created some fresh thinking that extended to a sense of social justice in Philippine society; but unfortunately, today it is back to the pre-Vatican mindset(mainly due to the conservatism of Pope John Paul II)except for the superficial changes to the externalities,i.e. rituals: the music and use of the vernacular.<BR/><BR/>Unchanged are the "bahala na ang Diyos",etc and the concern about the afterlife and practical neglect and/or lack of desire to correct present realities.<BR/><BR/>However, please note though that Catholicism per se do not automatically cause poverty of nations: see developed Catholic nations like Italy and France for example; even Catholic Ireland has leapfrogged to great progress.<BR/><BR/>It is the medieval version of Catholicism as propagated then by Spain up to the 19th century which seems to have militated against economic progress as observable in many Latin American countries and ours.<BR/><BR/>In fact, Spain which has done away with its anachronistic version after the death of dictator Franco in 1975 (who was strongly supported by the Spanish Catholic Church for 40 years of his fascistic regime) has greatly progressed. <BR/><BR/>Spaniards are now better educated and matured in their beliefs (they are still catholic), but the power of the Spanish Catholic Church since the Generalissimo's death has greatly diminished.Bert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1146809871502655372006-05-04T23:17:00.000-07:002006-05-04T23:17:00.000-07:00Teddy,URL for Part 3 is: http://thefilipinomind.bl...Teddy,<BR/><BR/>URL for Part 3 is: http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2006/03/making-of-americanized-filipino-minds_25.html<BR/><BR/><BR/>BertBert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1146732759919367692006-05-04T01:52:00.000-07:002006-05-04T01:52:00.000-07:00Your views are definitely w0rth reading! Ideally, ...Your views are definitely w0rth reading! <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Ideally, a person's religious beliefs shouldn't really matters in the public sphere and on how we 'appear' to others. I think what's impoRtant is how you DEAL and relate with and act towards OTHERS, and the laws, morality, anD customs of the s0ceity where you beLong...(and not your personal, private spiritual beliefs) <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Europeans and people of other nationaliTies may find it weiRd that there are "militant" atheists or atheists seeiNg the need to declarE themselves as such IN the Phils. But I believe that in a countRy like ouRs, the m0re people admit to being athEists and EXPLAIN THE REASONS, the better it will be. why? cuz it prov0kes thoughts aNd arguments, and hopefuLLy others will see that this atheiSm and/or rejection of Christian beliefs is ROOTED IN PERSONAL, IMMEDIATE EXPERIENCES.... and not see them as Sons of Satan, antichrists or freaks. <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>OFc0urse it also invites inane quesTions, tedious queries and insults (like, "how do you know what's right or wrong?" "why don't you just be a hed0nist, then?what's the meaning of LIFE for you then?") but that's really a smaLL price to paY. I think it would be great if non-Christian Filipinos bec0me more outsp0ken ab0ut <BR/>not being ONe and explain how they caMe to be such (like saying how Organized religion in our c0untry leads to m0re poverty, such as when p0or Filipinos decide to have m0re and more babies hoping that these kids will bring them deliverance; or when Filipinos endUre degradation and poVerty& don't do anything to s0Lve it for fuTure genErations cuz they believe they will be rewarded in heaven anyway, etc.)<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Christian ideals are w0nderful and great, just liKe in other religions. I cannot imagine Filipinos not being religious because it bringS them a sense of kinship, community and feelings of lasting peace, haPPiness... but I agree with your beliefs. This hypocrisy really isn't g0od for us.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>also, what surpRises me is the utter narrow-mindedNess and being dogmatic of so many Filipinos when it c0mes to reliGion. it's really quite incompreHensiBLe and ridicuLous~ <BR/><BR/><BR/>sorry for ranting. anyway thanks for the w0nderful posTs.Miss Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07806640305749683922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11987503.post-1146671575745357732006-05-03T08:52:00.000-07:002006-05-03T08:52:00.000-07:00Hello Teddy,Thanks for responding. Part 3 is alrea...Hello Teddy,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for responding. Part 3 is already in the blogsite. <BR/><BR/>BertBert M. Dronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06864941770380173324noreply@blogger.com