The migratory phenomena of our times are multiplying opportunities for interreligious and intercu... more The migratory phenomena of our times are multiplying opportunities for interreligious and intercultural dialogue. What does it mean to be a church1 among different people who are struggling to find their place in one space? This chapter focuses on the various church models that have developed in the migrant context and on how they deal with or “see beyond” religious and social differences. Models are attempts to explain and explore actual experiences through conceptual maps or typologies. Four models of the church will be discussed—namely, the monocul-tural host church, the monocultural migrant church, the multiculturalist church and the intercultural church. These church models are not exclusive of each other, for in doing ministry with migrants, practices overlap, nor are they intended to be exhaustive; instead they are meant to invite further reflections from those who work with migrants. This chapter highlights the intercultural church as an emerging ecclesial vision or orientation toward which the other models can direct themselves.2
This article aims to respond to the question: How have women received the shift of religious acti... more This article aims to respond to the question: How have women received the shift of religious activities online and what are its implications or challenges, if any, for the future of the church? The study reveals no significant difference in the level of engagement in religious activities prior to and during the pandemic among women respondents in the NCR, Philippines. Women have played crucial roles in maintaining the religious well-being of their household, suggesting exercise of agency and leadership. A correlation/regression analysis of the data also projects a significant increase in level of engagement in 10 online religious activities post-pandemic.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis has both broadened and enhanced the concept of synodality an... more During his pontificate, Pope Francis has both broadened and enhanced the concept of synodality and the synodal process to involve “especially those on the periphery who are often excluded and forgotten” ( Vademecum) and even those who have left the church. This thrust toward maximum participation and inclusion will necessarily give rise to divergences and conflicts regarding theological issues. This article explores how the use of new media, following the vTaiwan model, can be a means to go beyond an impasse and discern the consensus fidelium. vTaiwan is an online-offline discussion platform established by the government and activists in Taiwan to promote participatory governance.
This paper analyzes how the Saint John Neumann Migrants Center and its FB page function as cyberc... more This paper analyzes how the Saint John Neumann Migrants Center and its FB page function as cyberchurch or as a virtual extension of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Baclaran, Philippines. It examines how the FB page/Center responds to the spiritual, religious, and social needs of its members, as well as, how this transnational religious organizational structure impacts on migrants’ relations with the receiving and sending societies. A case study method was employed through non-participant observation of the FB Page/Center, and interviews with informed respondents, including victim-survivors from the Middle East. As mediator of a transnational religion, the SJNMC FB page simultaneously reflects and goes beyond the extended transnational religion prototype identified by Peggy Levitt and exemplified by the Catholic Church. Since it caters primarily to overseas Filipino workers who are only working abroad for the duration of their contract, it strengthens more migrants’ ties wit...
Background Mental health problems are prevalent among medical frontliners, as demonstrated in the... more Background Mental health problems are prevalent among medical frontliners, as demonstrated in the study by Ghaleb et al. in the case of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. As mental health can be strengthened by spirituality, this study probed into the spirituality of bahala na of overseas Filipino health care workers. Methodology A phenomenological research was conducted that includes an interview of 17 Filipino Catholic migrant nurses in five countries, on the situations when they find themselves exclaiming “bahala na” in their work as frontliners, and what this means for them. Results Affirming the notion of bahala na as an expression of hopeful risk-taking, the study showed that the nurses usually exclaim bahala na when they have done everything in their power in a given situation and they are now leaving the rest to God. The spirituality of bahala na helped the nurses face the stresses brought about by the pandemic, and when tapped, can further aid them in fighting against instit...
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, 2018
Contemporary migrant movements are marked by extraordinary reach and relentlessness, with varying... more Contemporary migrant movements are marked by extraordinary reach and relentlessness, with varying repercussions for human societies virtually everywhere. The religious implications are pervasive and profound. Peoples of all faiths are on the move, perhaps Christians more than most, since studies show that Christian adherents constitute close to fifty percent of all international migrants. Global migration is contributing to unprecedented levels of sustained interaction between diverse cultures and peoples once separated by great physical distance and thus has the potential to extend the scope of religious ideas, reshape the religious landscape of many societies, and foment pluralism. Statistical data lags behind reality. Indeed, numerical representation does little to convey the immense suffering, despair, and tragedy often integral to the migrant experience; nor does it adequately uncover the deep structures of inequality and injustice that fuel the colossal tide of migrants. In Church in an Age of Global Migration readers are presented with a compendium of thought-provoking reflections on migration from a diversity of perspectives and a variety of ecclesial traditions. The book is predicated on the recognition that migration is a major source of change in our world and that it also poses complex questions that require serious theological reflection and soul-searching among Christians. Each contributor draws on concrete realities and lived experiences to probe and often reconceptualize what it means to be church in (and affected by) an age of migration. The assessments range from the strongly critical to the prophetic and pastoral. In many contexts (conspicuously so in Western cities that are major destinations of international migrants), the impact and effects of migration on both church and society can threaten ecclesial identity, expose ethnocentric patterns of ministry, and discredit outmoded models of mission. But the critical issues are not the same everywhere, and the global dimensions of migration invite a multiplicity of insights and assessments. In this regard, the book’s dialogical and ecumenical approach is most effective and a testament to the importance of catholicity in addressing a worldwide phenomenon. Major themes addressed include the significance of recent demographic shifts in global Christianity; the links between missiology and ecclesiology; the role of diasporas; mobility and liturgy; interreligious encounter and accommodation; the cyber church; the plight and potential of domestic workers; disjuncture and dissonance between immigrant and homegrown churches in the West; and student migration. Theological appraisal could have been sharper; but the treatment is timely and valuable, offering critical insights to lay workers and professionals (in church and academy) alike.
Ciudad Mistica is an autochthonous nationalist religious group in Mount Banahaw, Philippines. A h... more Ciudad Mistica is an autochthonous nationalist religious group in Mount Banahaw, Philippines. A hybrid religion that has blended Christian symbols and beliefs with its deeply held belief in the Motherhood of God and women's spiritual leadership, it has both accommodated to and resisted colonial domination. This essay explores the question: What would a contrapuntal reading of the beliefs and praxis of the Catholic Church and Ciudad Mistica yield for a conversation on the issue of female God image nd leadership of women in the church?
The international journal of religion and spirituality in society, 2021
Traditional comparisons of indigenous and Christian tradition usually presuppose the primacy of C... more Traditional comparisons of indigenous and Christian tradition usually presuppose the primacy of Christianity. This essay takes a postcolonial approach by comparing justice-making in the Manobo and Biblical tradition on equal terms using the method of contrapuntal reading. The two traditions possess elements of retributive and restorative justice. The encounter between Manobos and Christians, however, has led to the development of the law of the panavuk (damages) where instead of immediate retaliation damages are paid to restore the honor of the aggrieved and the offender. While both stress the importance of reintegrating the offender to the community, the Manobo practice of community dialogue involving the active participation of the offender, victim, and the community, is a process of restorative justice that acknowledges more the role of the community in the wrongdoing and in making things right. This in turn can challenge the retributive approach to criminal justice in the country, in particular, Filipino Christians’ toleration of extra-judicial killing that puts the blame solely on small-time drug peddlers. Keywords: Justice, Manobo, Biblical Justice, Contrapuntal Reading, Restorative Justice
Introduction PART I: EXCLUSION, INCLUSION AND COLLUSION 1. Resistance/Collusion with Masculinist-... more Introduction PART I: EXCLUSION, INCLUSION AND COLLUSION 1. Resistance/Collusion with Masculinist-Capitalist Fantasies? Japanese and Filipino Women in the Cyber-Terrain Jeane Peracullo 2. Reading the Cyborg in Singapore: Technology, Gender, and Empowerment Shirley Soh 3. Digital Revolution Creating a Flat World for Asian Women! Virginia Saldanha 4. Just Internet Relations: A Study of High School Girls Flora Carandang 5. Women in Cyberspace: A New Key to Emancipatory Politics of Location Kochurani Abraham PART II: WOMEN, WORK AND FAMILY 6. Ethical-Pastoral Challenges of Call Center Jobs Jennifer Villagonzalo 7. For Better or For Worse?: Migrant Women Workers and ICTs Gemma T. Cruz PART III: RELIGION AND CYBERSPACE 8. From Cyberchurch to Faith Apps: Religion 2.0 on the Rise? Pauline Hope Cheong 9. Sacralizing Time And Space Through an Epistemology of Peace: A Feminist Reading of DiscipleSFX of Malaysia Sharon A. Bong PART IV: SPIRITUAL APPROACHES NECESSARY IN THE DIGITAL AGE 10. The Sp...
Body and Sexuality is a pathfinding volume, which breaks the silence around the long-held taboo o... more Body and Sexuality is a pathfinding volume, which breaks the silence around the long-held taboo of women’s sexuality in Asian Christian communities. Based on the papers from the second conference of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia held in Yogyakarta in November 2004, the anthology provides biblical and theological grounding for Asian Christian women to affirm their body and dignity. It makes significant contributions to Asian feminist theology and is an invaluable resource for churches, clergy, seminarians, and pastoral workers who are committed to women’s emancipation and liberation. The anthology is interdisciplinary in nature and broad in scope, including discussions on Body and Sexuality; Asian Societies/World; Body and Scriptures; Sacramentality of Women’s Bodies; Sexuality and Church Leadership; and Images of God’s Body. The authors engage feminist biblical and theological literature, as well as gender theory, women’s psychology, queer theory, and Asian philosophy and religions....
The migratory phenomena of our times are multiplying opportunities for interreligious and intercu... more The migratory phenomena of our times are multiplying opportunities for interreligious and intercultural dialogue. What does it mean to be a church1 among different people who are struggling to find their place in one space? This chapter focuses on the various church models that have developed in the migrant context and on how they deal with or “see beyond” religious and social differences. Models are attempts to explain and explore actual experiences through conceptual maps or typologies. Four models of the church will be discussed—namely, the monocul-tural host church, the monocultural migrant church, the multiculturalist church and the intercultural church. These church models are not exclusive of each other, for in doing ministry with migrants, practices overlap, nor are they intended to be exhaustive; instead they are meant to invite further reflections from those who work with migrants. This chapter highlights the intercultural church as an emerging ecclesial vision or orientation toward which the other models can direct themselves.2
This article aims to respond to the question: How have women received the shift of religious acti... more This article aims to respond to the question: How have women received the shift of religious activities online and what are its implications or challenges, if any, for the future of the church? The study reveals no significant difference in the level of engagement in religious activities prior to and during the pandemic among women respondents in the NCR, Philippines. Women have played crucial roles in maintaining the religious well-being of their household, suggesting exercise of agency and leadership. A correlation/regression analysis of the data also projects a significant increase in level of engagement in 10 online religious activities post-pandemic.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis has both broadened and enhanced the concept of synodality an... more During his pontificate, Pope Francis has both broadened and enhanced the concept of synodality and the synodal process to involve “especially those on the periphery who are often excluded and forgotten” ( Vademecum) and even those who have left the church. This thrust toward maximum participation and inclusion will necessarily give rise to divergences and conflicts regarding theological issues. This article explores how the use of new media, following the vTaiwan model, can be a means to go beyond an impasse and discern the consensus fidelium. vTaiwan is an online-offline discussion platform established by the government and activists in Taiwan to promote participatory governance.
This paper analyzes how the Saint John Neumann Migrants Center and its FB page function as cyberc... more This paper analyzes how the Saint John Neumann Migrants Center and its FB page function as cyberchurch or as a virtual extension of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Baclaran, Philippines. It examines how the FB page/Center responds to the spiritual, religious, and social needs of its members, as well as, how this transnational religious organizational structure impacts on migrants’ relations with the receiving and sending societies. A case study method was employed through non-participant observation of the FB Page/Center, and interviews with informed respondents, including victim-survivors from the Middle East. As mediator of a transnational religion, the SJNMC FB page simultaneously reflects and goes beyond the extended transnational religion prototype identified by Peggy Levitt and exemplified by the Catholic Church. Since it caters primarily to overseas Filipino workers who are only working abroad for the duration of their contract, it strengthens more migrants’ ties wit...
Background Mental health problems are prevalent among medical frontliners, as demonstrated in the... more Background Mental health problems are prevalent among medical frontliners, as demonstrated in the study by Ghaleb et al. in the case of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. As mental health can be strengthened by spirituality, this study probed into the spirituality of bahala na of overseas Filipino health care workers. Methodology A phenomenological research was conducted that includes an interview of 17 Filipino Catholic migrant nurses in five countries, on the situations when they find themselves exclaiming “bahala na” in their work as frontliners, and what this means for them. Results Affirming the notion of bahala na as an expression of hopeful risk-taking, the study showed that the nurses usually exclaim bahala na when they have done everything in their power in a given situation and they are now leaving the rest to God. The spirituality of bahala na helped the nurses face the stresses brought about by the pandemic, and when tapped, can further aid them in fighting against instit...
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, 2018
Contemporary migrant movements are marked by extraordinary reach and relentlessness, with varying... more Contemporary migrant movements are marked by extraordinary reach and relentlessness, with varying repercussions for human societies virtually everywhere. The religious implications are pervasive and profound. Peoples of all faiths are on the move, perhaps Christians more than most, since studies show that Christian adherents constitute close to fifty percent of all international migrants. Global migration is contributing to unprecedented levels of sustained interaction between diverse cultures and peoples once separated by great physical distance and thus has the potential to extend the scope of religious ideas, reshape the religious landscape of many societies, and foment pluralism. Statistical data lags behind reality. Indeed, numerical representation does little to convey the immense suffering, despair, and tragedy often integral to the migrant experience; nor does it adequately uncover the deep structures of inequality and injustice that fuel the colossal tide of migrants. In Church in an Age of Global Migration readers are presented with a compendium of thought-provoking reflections on migration from a diversity of perspectives and a variety of ecclesial traditions. The book is predicated on the recognition that migration is a major source of change in our world and that it also poses complex questions that require serious theological reflection and soul-searching among Christians. Each contributor draws on concrete realities and lived experiences to probe and often reconceptualize what it means to be church in (and affected by) an age of migration. The assessments range from the strongly critical to the prophetic and pastoral. In many contexts (conspicuously so in Western cities that are major destinations of international migrants), the impact and effects of migration on both church and society can threaten ecclesial identity, expose ethnocentric patterns of ministry, and discredit outmoded models of mission. But the critical issues are not the same everywhere, and the global dimensions of migration invite a multiplicity of insights and assessments. In this regard, the book’s dialogical and ecumenical approach is most effective and a testament to the importance of catholicity in addressing a worldwide phenomenon. Major themes addressed include the significance of recent demographic shifts in global Christianity; the links between missiology and ecclesiology; the role of diasporas; mobility and liturgy; interreligious encounter and accommodation; the cyber church; the plight and potential of domestic workers; disjuncture and dissonance between immigrant and homegrown churches in the West; and student migration. Theological appraisal could have been sharper; but the treatment is timely and valuable, offering critical insights to lay workers and professionals (in church and academy) alike.
Ciudad Mistica is an autochthonous nationalist religious group in Mount Banahaw, Philippines. A h... more Ciudad Mistica is an autochthonous nationalist religious group in Mount Banahaw, Philippines. A hybrid religion that has blended Christian symbols and beliefs with its deeply held belief in the Motherhood of God and women's spiritual leadership, it has both accommodated to and resisted colonial domination. This essay explores the question: What would a contrapuntal reading of the beliefs and praxis of the Catholic Church and Ciudad Mistica yield for a conversation on the issue of female God image nd leadership of women in the church?
The international journal of religion and spirituality in society, 2021
Traditional comparisons of indigenous and Christian tradition usually presuppose the primacy of C... more Traditional comparisons of indigenous and Christian tradition usually presuppose the primacy of Christianity. This essay takes a postcolonial approach by comparing justice-making in the Manobo and Biblical tradition on equal terms using the method of contrapuntal reading. The two traditions possess elements of retributive and restorative justice. The encounter between Manobos and Christians, however, has led to the development of the law of the panavuk (damages) where instead of immediate retaliation damages are paid to restore the honor of the aggrieved and the offender. While both stress the importance of reintegrating the offender to the community, the Manobo practice of community dialogue involving the active participation of the offender, victim, and the community, is a process of restorative justice that acknowledges more the role of the community in the wrongdoing and in making things right. This in turn can challenge the retributive approach to criminal justice in the country, in particular, Filipino Christians’ toleration of extra-judicial killing that puts the blame solely on small-time drug peddlers. Keywords: Justice, Manobo, Biblical Justice, Contrapuntal Reading, Restorative Justice
Introduction PART I: EXCLUSION, INCLUSION AND COLLUSION 1. Resistance/Collusion with Masculinist-... more Introduction PART I: EXCLUSION, INCLUSION AND COLLUSION 1. Resistance/Collusion with Masculinist-Capitalist Fantasies? Japanese and Filipino Women in the Cyber-Terrain Jeane Peracullo 2. Reading the Cyborg in Singapore: Technology, Gender, and Empowerment Shirley Soh 3. Digital Revolution Creating a Flat World for Asian Women! Virginia Saldanha 4. Just Internet Relations: A Study of High School Girls Flora Carandang 5. Women in Cyberspace: A New Key to Emancipatory Politics of Location Kochurani Abraham PART II: WOMEN, WORK AND FAMILY 6. Ethical-Pastoral Challenges of Call Center Jobs Jennifer Villagonzalo 7. For Better or For Worse?: Migrant Women Workers and ICTs Gemma T. Cruz PART III: RELIGION AND CYBERSPACE 8. From Cyberchurch to Faith Apps: Religion 2.0 on the Rise? Pauline Hope Cheong 9. Sacralizing Time And Space Through an Epistemology of Peace: A Feminist Reading of DiscipleSFX of Malaysia Sharon A. Bong PART IV: SPIRITUAL APPROACHES NECESSARY IN THE DIGITAL AGE 10. The Sp...
Body and Sexuality is a pathfinding volume, which breaks the silence around the long-held taboo o... more Body and Sexuality is a pathfinding volume, which breaks the silence around the long-held taboo of women’s sexuality in Asian Christian communities. Based on the papers from the second conference of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia held in Yogyakarta in November 2004, the anthology provides biblical and theological grounding for Asian Christian women to affirm their body and dignity. It makes significant contributions to Asian feminist theology and is an invaluable resource for churches, clergy, seminarians, and pastoral workers who are committed to women’s emancipation and liberation. The anthology is interdisciplinary in nature and broad in scope, including discussions on Body and Sexuality; Asian Societies/World; Body and Scriptures; Sacramentality of Women’s Bodies; Sexuality and Church Leadership; and Images of God’s Body. The authors engage feminist biblical and theological literature, as well as gender theory, women’s psychology, queer theory, and Asian philosophy and religions....
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