Philippine E-Journals

Fifty years of Philippine Progress

Eufronio M. Alip

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

Under Spain, the Filipinos professed only one form of religion, namely, Catholic Christianity. The only ones who did not embrace the Catholic religion were the Moslems, popularly called Moros, in Mindanao and Sulu and the pagans who lived in the mountains. The Philippine Revolution and the coming of the Americans, however, changed the picture somewhat, for now about 20% of our people are reported to belong to other faiths. This is the result of the system of the democratic government which the United States established in this country. As one of the principles of democracy is the grant of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience to every man, other religious faiths were introduced here. Shortly, after the occupation of Manila by the American troops in 1898, Protestant form of worship was introduced, first through the efforts of some Protestant leaders such as Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Prautch, Bishop James M. Thoburu, Dr. and Mrs. James B. Rodgers; and, later. Protestantism of various denominations followed.