Mariana Beatrice N. Salvador Dec.

8, 2024
Sir Galvin Radley Ngo EDUC 101i

CRE #2: Religious Education in the Philippines and

the Renaissance

Introduction

Religion, specifically Catholicism, has been an integral part of the Philippine education

system for years. Even now, we’re studying in a Catholic school that aims to be progressive but

still centers itself around Catholic values and ideals. Whether we admit it or not, religion,

specifically Catholicism and Christianity, have influenced not only our education, but also our

culture and values as people. While I don’t necessarily think it’s an issue per se, I believe that

being so heavily influenced by these religions leaves us heavily reliant on religious leaders who

are “appointed” to spread the knowledge of God; forgetting that at the end of the day, they’re

only human. As an agnostic person, I do believe in God; what I don’t believe in is making

religion the center of all the things we learn in life or all the decisions we make. Religion has

always been a topic that people tend to avoid, yet many fail to acknowledge that it serves as the

basis for many aspects of our lives, such as our moral compass, how we view people, and our

overall sense of judgment. With that being said, let’s dive into Catholicism’s extreme influence in

Philippine education and how it has been remedied over time, with our prime examples being

the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and our education system today.

Religion in Philippine Education

For as long as many of us can remember, the Philippines has been a conservative,

predominantly Catholic country. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 78.8% of

Philippine citizens identify as Roman Catholic, with many enrolling their children into Catholic or

Christian schools. Although there are plenty of schools today that are religious yet pursuing a
more progressive approach to learning, they still often integrate religious classes into their

curricula (i.e. Christian Living Education), which may feel alienating to students of different

faiths. Having Bible-centered classes may marginalize students of faiths that do not rely on the

Bible, such as Islam or Buddhism. It may also disengage students who do not subscribe to

religion at all. One example is Miriam College’s Basic Education Unit. When I went to high

school there, we were required to take a Christian Living (CL) class that heavily emphasized the

role of Jesus Christ as the center of our lives. As someone who identified as Christian at the

time (but was coming to terms with being agnostic due to religious trauma), I didn’t necessarily

oppose this, but even then, I felt a sort of disconnect from the lessons because they were so

heavily reliant on scripture and following the example of Jesus. I also had classmates who were

atheists, so when we would talk about CL class, they would tell me that they didn’t really listen

and were just waiting for the class to be over. Backed by research from multiple articles and

journals, Alexander Unser states that overall, the main issues with religious education stem from

feelings of alienation, emotional disconnect, and cognitive dissonance of nonreligious students

studying in religious schools.

To provide more insight on this issue in the Philippine context specifically, Section 6 of

Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution reads: “The separation of Church and State shall be

inviolable.” This conveys the government’s stance as a secular body, separate from the

Church’s influence. As government institutions, public schools in the Philippines that still utilize

Catholic education undermine the government’s principle of secularism, which may violate the

rights of students of different faiths.

The Renaissance and Protestant Reformation

The Renaissance is universally recognized as a time of reformation; or rather, “rebirth.” It

revived Classical learning and wisdom, and marked a new age where secularity and the

importance of human experience began to rise. While religion was still practiced and remained
influential in people’s lives, it was no longer the driving force behind education or governance.

The Renaissance marked an era of scientific inquiry, artistic innovation, and the rediscovery of

classical philosophy. This movement emphasized the importance of human reason and the

exploration of the natural world, which led to notable advancements in science, art, and politics.

Even so, religion still played an important role in daily life, namely in the form of Catholicism,

which remained dominant in Europe at the time (Wilds, Lottich, 1936).

The Protestant Reformation, which happened during the Renaissance, emerged to

challenge the authority of the Catholic Church. This movement led to the Great Schism,

resulting in the creation of various Protestant denominations. The Reformation had quite a few

effects on education, especially in terms of promoting universal literacy and access to the Bible.

Notable reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin emphasized the importance of individuals

being able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. The Reformation also promoted a

more well-rounded curriculum that went beyond religion, incorporating subjects such as

grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy. However, education during the Reformation still had its

limitations, particularly in regard to gender. While it advocated for the literacy of both boys and

girls, girls' education often focused on domestic roles rather than intellectual or academic

pursuits, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

Analysis

Comparing the past and present, we can see that modern education, similar to the

Renaissance and the Reformation, continues to have less emphasis on religion as the primary

focus of learning. Religious schools still promote the literacy of the Bible and emphasize moral

and theological teachings, but they have broadened their scope to include the study of human

nature, ethics, and the encouragement of self-discovery. Modern religious education

encourages students to explore new ways of thinking, aligning with the Renaissance’s focus on
individualism and intellectual growth, though it now incorporates more inclusive and progressive

values.

Given these similarities, there are also some differences to be noted. Gender limitations,

which were still pretty common during both the Renaissance and the Reformation, have largely

been removed (or in some cases, lessened) in contemporary education. Schools today are

more progressive and inclusive, with fewer restrictions on what individuals of different genders

can study or pursue. Moreover, education today does not perpetuate the necessity of Bible

literacy, and a more secular, well-rounded curriculum is standard in many educational systems,

embracing diversity in thought and belief. The focus on human development and the integration

of various fields of knowledge has made modern education more inclusive and accessible,

compared to the gendered and religiously constrained systems of the past.

Reflection

An insight I can draw from the process of uncovering the historical underpinnings of this

issue is that, even though religion isn’t given as much importance in education today as it was in

the past, it still influences many aspects of our lives. This has always been the case; even

during the Reformation, when the Protestant movement fought for reform and the promotion of

universal education, the Bible was still placed on a pedestal. Despite efforts to challenge the

Catholic Church’s authority, religion continues to hold significance in society today.

There are several benefits to studying the relationship between religion and education.

For one, it provides a deeper insight into religion’s impact on education and its broader influence

on lifestyle and morality. This exploration opens room for dialogue, offering a platform for both

religious and non-religious people to engage in meaningful conversations. Additionally, religious

education can support moral development, teaching values such as honesty, compassion, and

responsibility, which play a critical role in shaping individuals' characters and actions.
 However, there are also limitations. At times, discussions surrounding religion in

education may inadvertently demonize faith or create conflict between people with differing

views. Personal bias may also affect how religion is presented and understood, which can cloud

an objective or inclusive approach to teaching about faith.

In a country like the Philippines, where Catholicism is deeply ingrained in society, promoting

secularity can be difficult. Religion has historically been the driving force behind many cultural,

social, and even governmental aspects of life. Nevertheless, progress is being made. Even

though God’s word continues to shape many of our moral frameworks, there is a growing

recognition that there are other valuable perspectives and subjects worth exploring. As our

understanding broadens, we are finding ways to embrace both faith and the exploration of a

diverse array of ideas that contribute to a more inclusive society.

References

Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing). (2022,

February 22). Philippine Statistics Authority.

[Link]

using

1987 Constitution | Senate Electoral Tribunal. (n.d.).

[Link]

Sagut, J. C. (2022). THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN THE CURRENT

PHILIPPINE CONTEXT. POLITICS AND RELIGION JOURNAL, 16(2), 217–237.

[Link]
Wilds, E. H., & Lottich, K. V. (1936). The foundations of modern education.

[Link]