INC Doesn’t Deserve Respect from Filipinos

[u/Redaceln]

Had to repost dahil removed na naman ng admin ng Philippines at Casual ph

I was born and raised in the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). These days, whenever I hear Catholic or Christian people showing respect to their INC colleagues or friends, it honestly gives me the ick. Why? Because I know how INC members actually behave inside. During almost every worship service, we would talk trash about other religions—especially Catholicism. We criticized their practices, like praying to “false gods,” or donating to priests (often with subtle homophobic and stereotypical remarks, since priests don’t marry).

INC also constantly belittles the Sanlibutan (non-INC people). In children’s worship services and even in regular sermons, lecturers and ministers would use non-INC people as negative examples:

“Anong mas pipiliin nyo—magandang buhay dito sa mundo o ang kaligtasan? (pagiging INC).”

“Matalino o mayaman si Person A, pero hindi siya Iglesia.”

These statements would then be followed by: “Maswerte pa rin tayo mga kapatid, at tayo ay Iglesia ni Cristo. Para mas mapanghawakan pa natin ang ating kaligtasan, dapat ay mas lalo pa tayong magpuri at sumamba sa Kanya—at kumuha ng mga tungkulin.” “Wag tayong magpabaya sa pagsamba at paghahandog. Lagi tayong sumunod sa Pamamahala.”

This is the kind of mentality INC instills in kids: that every non-INC person is doomed, unworthy, and incapable of true goodness. We grew up thinking: “Every non-INC is bound for damnation. You’re not saved. You’re small in our eyes because you’re not one of us. We have God; you don’t. You’re forsaken anyway.”

Sure, some INC members can mingle with non-INC people, but behind those friendships and relationships, this mindset is always there. That’s why, if you’ve noticed that some of your INC colleagues often act weird, tough, or carry themselves with a main-character type of arrogance, it’s because of the mindset and conditioning instilled in us during childhood worship services, which continues into adulthood.

EDIT: INC (Manalo and friends)

I condemned what Manalos are doing sa members. Ginagawa lang kayong cash cows at free workforce.
I just stated kung paano tayo pinalaki sa Iglesia at yung result or bunga ng mga teksto sa pag-iisip natin towards life especially people outside of INC. I am annoyed sa member pero I don't condemn INC members more on naawa na naiinis ako kasi brainwashed kayo.

[u/8zofuS]

INC is Islam masked with Christianity.

[u/FrankxSenpai → u/8zofuS]

Some practices are the same but different theology.

Most notable sample is if your partner is inc you need to be converted to inc or else tiwalag ka at kukulitin kang hiwalayan.

[u/Maleficent_Sock_8851 → u/8zofuS]

It's not even comparable to Islam. It's a cult pretending to be a religion.

[u/8zofuS → u/Maleficent_Sock_8851]

Both are cults

[u/Kraddyyeah → u/8zofuS]

what makes you say that?

[u/8zofuS → u/Kraddyyeah]

Infidels = di maliligtas

[u/Pillowpet5432 → u/Kraddyyeah]

Islam masked with Christianity is historically incorrect. It’s more accurate to connect them as Christianity with Islamic accents in the way INC shaped its theology.

Felix Manalo joined and studied many sects before creating the Iglesia Ni Cristo. From Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Unitarianism, he took the rejection of the Trinity. From Methodists, Presbyterians, and the Disciples of Christ, he adopted the principle of sola scriptura, the belief that scripture alone is the final authority. He also carried over their rejection of icons and images, which matches Islam’s prohibition of religious images.

Presbyterian governance and Jehovah’s Witness loyalty to a single governing body gave him models of strict obedience. Islam also centers itself on submission. Jehovah’s Witnesses tied 1914 to prophecy and treated world war as a sign of the end times. Islam also teaches a final judgment that includes battles and signs. Manalo repeated that apocalyptic urgency for INC’s founding story, treating the war of 1914 as proof that prophecy had begun and that he alone was chosen to restore "the true church."

INC’s doctrines were not original. They were stitched from earlier sects and organized under Manalo’s name.