Syncretism in Philippine Catholicism: its Historical Cause

Abstract

The existence of syncretism in Philippine folk Catholicism - that is to say, an admixture of elements of pre-Hispanic animistic practices and beliefs with Catholic ritual elements, so as to form what is essentially a different religion from orthodox Catholicism - has been widely affirmed by anthropologists as well as less scientific observers, both Filipino and foreign. As used in this article, syncretistic Catholicism is to be differentiated from legitimate folk Catholicism, in which certain folk elements, either encouraged or at least tolerated by the Church, are integrated into what is fundamentally a Catholic belief and value system. Without wishing to deal with theological considerations here, the focus of this article will be on syncretism as defined above, though much of what is said as to its causes will be equally applicable to manifestations of folk Catholicism which are recognized as legitimate Catholicism.