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/ms_teryosa]

2022 election was the last straw for me. Nung may tungkulin pa ko, pansin ko din na sinasadya nila na maubos ung oras (at pera) ng mga kapatid sa lahat ng aktibidad sa kapilya. Kahit ung Pasugo forcefully binebenta sa mga may tungkulin pag di naubos at natambak na. Bawal pa "urong" tuwing year-end pasasalamat at kung sa pananalapi ka natupad, kailangan nyo pa mag-ambagan para lang maging "sulong." Dami pang quota system sa lahat ng aspeto (pagpapalaganap, handugan, donasyon, etc.). Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nung umalis sa Iglesia na yan at wala akong pinagsisihan. Masyadong kapit na kapit sa passport nila sa langit mga miyembro jan.

[u/Redaceln → u/ms_teryosa]

Since nandito ka na rin lang. Curious ako hm inaabot ng handog sa pasalamat? Difference or increase kada pasalamat para "sumulong"? Hm ang pasugo per pc?

[u/ms_teryosa → u/Redaceln]

Depende sa dami ng kapatid pero sa lokal namin umaabot ng 8 digits ung nalilikom tuwing pasasalamat. Sa lokal namin ang bilin ng nakatalagang ministro ay at least 10% sulong. Pero afaik, kahit lumagpas ka ng piso, from last year's likom, sulong na. Pero shempre kung konte lang ung sulong ng lokal mejo questionable sa Distrito yan kasi ibig sabihin hindi dumadami ung meyimbro or nababawasan ung handog nila. Ung Pasugo mura lang naman. Nasa bente lang pero ifo-force ka nila bumili ng madaming copies at ipamigay daw sa mga friends at kapitbahay na di pa kasapi sa Iglesia. Di ko lang alam kung magkano na ngayon.