Claiming the Nation:
Reflections on Religion and Politics in the Philippines
The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia is a claim widely rehearsed in and about Philippine society. It is, for one, often found in media commentaries about Filipinos and their spectacular religiosity. Even state agencies resort to this characterization. Beginning with this vignette, this talk introduces the concept of ‘theological nationalism’, which refers to discursive claims made by religious groups about the Christian identity of the Philippines. They do so by invoking religious resources (like Scriptures and spiritual encounters) to argue for the divine destiny of the country as the only Christian nation in Asia. To this end, I will draw on discourses emanating not just from the Catholic Church but also other religious groups, including megachurches like Victory (Every Nation), evangelical churches like Jesus is Lord (JIL), and indigenous and Restorationist churches like Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC). The talk will highlight some of the consequences of theological nationalism for social and political life in the country.
Jayeel Cornelio is Professor of Development Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University and Visiting Professor at the Center for Asian Democracy at the University of Louisville. He has written extensively on religion and public life in the Philippines, focusing on some of the most controversial issues in the country, including the war on drugs and the struggle for gender equality. Funded by the British Academy, he is co-leading a project on faith and peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, Burundi, and the Philippines. Professor Cornelio is also a columnist for Rappler’s Thought Leaders section.A recording will be available on the CSEAS YouTube channel following the event.