God, Religion and Poverty

Recently, I chanced upon a discussion in the internet regarding why there’s so much poverty in the Philippines and other Christian countries. The discussion started with this story of a conversation with a wealthy foreigner visiting the country and a pastor.

The visitor is telling him how he had come to love the country due to its beautiful people and breathtaking sceneries. Then continued with his observation that Filipinos are a very religious people. Bible verses could be seen almost everywhere; from the mud flaps of tricycles and jeepneys to anywhere a person is able to express his religiosity. However, in all the places he has visited, he also observed that in spite of the people’s profound belief and faith in their religion, still, there is so much poverty in the country.

The question was then posed: Why so much God and poverty in our country?

The pastor then laments that in some “godless” countries like China and Vietnam (both are Communist or Socialist countries), they were able to reduce their poverty rate and were currently getting the lion’s share of available worldwide investments. It is a well–known fact that religion is being suppressed in both countries. In China, any citizen can only practice those religions which are officially sanctioned by the state. Vietnam has just recently been recovering from its war for independence and unification. They have fought a hard and long war that lasted for more than twenty years. Its Communist government has also suppressed the people’s freedom of worship.

While some Christian countries like the Philippines and in some Latin and Central American countries where religiosity is prevalent continue to grapple with poverty. There being not enough investments – local or foreign – to drive their economies forward.

Statistics show that from 37% to 45% of the Philippine population live below the poverty line. With scarce opportunities for jobs, a significant number of the labor force is looking beyond its shores for gainful employment. Majority of these workers are married individuals who are forced to sacrifice familial relationships in the hope of gaining better living conditions for their families.

Are the achievements of these two Communist and “godless” countries a result of luck or of intervention by the gods?

Both China and Vietnam adopted the Socialist form of government after waging a bitter and deadly civil war. Both countries suffered from graft and corruption, from hunger and lack of economic activities as what the Christian countries are also experiencing. Both countries have also recently discovered that Communism or Socialism is just an illusion.

The difference is both China and Vietnam, after realizing their mistakes, undertook major social and economic reforms for the sake of their people’s welfare. While the Philippines, in spite of two peaceful revolutions, have not or could not implement any social or economic reforms needed to alleviate its poverty situation.

However, despite these adversities and deficiencies, Filipinos are still ranked as one of the happiest people in the world. Therefore, I could surmise that religion does have an influence on poverty, but on a positive note. The Filipinos’ belief and faith in their God and religion lessen the burden they have to face daily in their lives. It is the only hope that they can hold on to in their unpleasant world. It is the only source of his strength to have the power to choose his own path and curve his own destiny. Aside from this belief there is no one else that they can turn to.

Ever since the advent of man and his society, poverty has already been one of its main concerns. Social stratification evolved at the same time that humans learned how to live together as a community. Establishing its civilization, the urbanization of society also came into development due to the significant changes in the way people interacted among themselves. From a simple village organization to a larger, more complex urbanized social structure brought about by their new found needs for trade, agriculture and warfare. People are being uprooted from their homes and lands either from conquests or of their need to find a better means of livelihood. Oftentimes they could only found them in the cities where there are more economic activities. With these new development there came into being another stratum in its social hierarchy, the lowest echelon of society – the landless, the laborers, the slaves - the people we now call the poor.

As civilization progresses, this social stratification rose among nations around the globe as well. Wealthy and powerful nations use cheap labor and resources of less powerful nations for their own interests in building their empires or enlarging their domains. This dynamic continues up to the age of colonialism from the 15^th up to the early 19^th centuries.

History is replete with moral codes on social justice. The earliest known written one is that of the Babylonians which have their Code of Hammurabi, the Confucian teachings of the Chinese, the Talmudic Laws of the Jews, and the Bible of the Christians. In spite of these moral codes and teachings, sadly, the call for everyone to relate to the poor with compassion remain unheeded. Mistreatment of the poor and social injustice is ubiquitously practiced.

Many times man has tried to implement social justice. The bible tells us of how the early Christians lived communally that no one among them were in need. During the times of the prophets, God has continually reminded His people to live according to what should be morally correct. The early fathers of the Church have continuously preached to be compassionate with the poor. And some of them even practiced their vow of poverty. In modern times, the Industrial Revolution that began in England produced what was later became the model of the modern labor codes to protect women and children from exploitation. Abraham Lincoln waged one of the bloodiest civil war against his countrymen to end slavery in deference to America’s declaration of human rights. All of these are in vain. Social injustice is still prevalent. Poverty is still the scourge of mankind as it has always been.

While it is very true that Christianity is the best legacy of Spain to the Philippines, it is the tyranny of some of its adherents that contributes to the persecution of the majority of the population. Their avarice is unquenchable.

On the other end of the spectrum are those that are simply apathetic to the conditions of their countrymen. Here lies the majority of the populace. Those who are simply contented just to earn their upkeeps to go on with their ordinary lives.

Unless man will learn all the lessons of history that was played down from one era to another era; unless man will heed the moral teachings handed from one generation to the next generation, the tyranny and the apathy of man shall always be with us. The poor among us will still be persecuted and oppressed as they have been for thousands of years.