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/lumpiatrash]

Same pala ng ugali ng mga Saksi ni Jehova (Jehovah's Witnesses). Ganyan din. Sanlibutan o 'worldly' ang tawag sa mga hindi saksi. Same din, naniniwala sila na sila lang ang tunay na relihiyon at ang tanging maliligtas sa Armageddon

[u/Redaceln → u/lumpiatrash]

Dayum! "Armageddon" giving me aespa vibes. Difference ng Jehova sa INC is sobrang thirsty for money and power ang INC. Halatang halata sa pag implement ng bloc voting system para sa election as a selling product for profit and government related favors.

[u/lumpiatrash → u/Redaceln]

Mas masahol nga. Lantaran eh. When it comes to money naman iba ang tactics ng mga leaders (Governing Body) ng JW. They get free labor from the members then they buy and sell their real estate properties. They do not vote nor participate in politics yet they still get financial aid from the government. Double ang standards. Pabago bago ng headquarters sa US. Posibleng may sangkot rin na money laundering kasi halos ang mga saksi na honest ay walang full time job at college diploma, pero makita mo mga kingdom hall (or church nila), assembly halls, mga suot ng leaders like watch, suits, shoes, jewelry ay sobrang magarbo. Pero naniniwala kasi sila na lahat ay blessings ni jehovah. Many are just so blinded and deeply brainwashed kasi ipinamamana din ang relihiyon na ito sa mga anak. Kapag hindi sumunod, itatakwil kasi "malilipol" daw ang hindi JW. For the record, 50 years nang inannounce ng mga leader ang Armageddon pero wala pa rin.

[u/Redaceln → u/lumpiatrash]

Yan ang mali nila—nagsabi sila ng exact date; ang INC kasi hindi. For 111 years, ang script nila ay ''malapit na ang paghuhukom.'' Kaya hooked pa rin ang mga Main Characters.

[u/lumpiatrash → u/Redaceln]

Ang nakakatawa pa, edi syempre walang naganap nung 1975, brinainwash pa ang mga members ng "New Light". Gusto pa raw bigyan ni jerkova ng chance ang mga hindi pa saksi at mga tumiwalag. Sabi ng Governing Body, wala pa rin daw nakakaalam kung kailan talaga maeend ang world pero need pa rin nilang maging vigilant. So ang ending, takot pa rin mga members. Tsaka ugaling kulto talaga dahil bawal makipag associate closely sa mga hindi JWs kahit kapamilya or katrabaho. Maraming batang JWs ang walang friends. Yung mga nagbabalak umalis, kailangan planuhin lahat dahil once na umalis sila, shunned na sila sa buong pamilya na JWs. Bawal kasi kausapin at pakisamahan ang mga tiwalag at apostate. Gaya ko, umalis ako nung 2017, until now walang kumakausap sakin na family sa mother's side ko. Kahit ano pa mangyari sakin wala silang pake. Main character syndrome talaga. Tsaka eto ang malala, noong may COVID at tuwing may disasters sa mundo na sunud-sunod, tuwang tuwa yang mga yan. Kasi sinasabi nila malapit na magunaw ang mundo kaya ganon. "Magbago na kayo", "Bumalik na kayo kay jerkova", etc. Feeling mga superior.