Filipino Students’ Attitudes towards Religion: Basis for Program Enrichment

Abstract

The attitude towards religion in the Philippines shows that students have different ideas and appreciation of religion, morals, and spirituality. This led to encouraging religious educators to understand more how the Filipino youth view religiosity and spirituality. This study targeted the tripartite dimensions which focuses on the (1) identity, which looks on one’s attitude towards being identified with God and a religious institution; the (2) spirituality, which evaluates one’s affective sentiments towards God, or one’s emotional disposition towards God, the (3) religiosity, which touches one’s response towards religion in the personal, moral, and social order. Students' attitude towards religion will be quantified using three dimensions and qualify through data analysis. The study was conducted in four big schools in Pampanga. Two of which offer religious education programs, others don’t offer the program. This study used the Filipino Student’s Attitudes towards Religion of Rito Baring for the quantitative part followed by the thematic analysis for the qualitative part. Students' attitudes towards religion supported through religious activities in the learning environment and community have positive results in their behavior. An enrichment program coined as Pamilya, Paaralan, and Simbahan is enhanced which focuses on the spiritual and religious aspects of students in terms of cognitive, affective and behavioral to fortify and deepen the holistic well-being of students.