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.

To My Mother

She looks frail and delicate at her age of eighty one. She could barely move her legs which make her face twist in agony or if it was touched, even with care. There is no wheelchair, so my son and I have to sit her on a plastic chair and carry her toward the waiting cab. As we carry her along she let out a stifling cry, softly muttering and pleading the Lord to ease the pain. She is a bit heavy for her small frame though she is not fat. She could have not weight more than a hundred and twenty.

Last August 5 my mother fainted and fell. She has just finished her bath and was hanging her laundry outside the yard when suddenly she felt dizzy. This caused her to lose her balance. Unfortunately, she was all alone in the house at the time. No one could tell how long she was unconscious or if she were indeed. Upon gaining her consciousness, she cried for help. Our nearest neighbor heard the cry and she was immediately helped to stand and be carried back home. In agonizing pain. This is what happened, according to her.

The fall could not have been that hard. The right thigh she was complaining of has not shown any sign of swelling. Even after two days of excruciating pain. Neither headache nor any sign of swelling or scratches. This could only mean that the fall could have been cushioned by something, maybe her left elbow or left arm, as this is the only part of her body that has some small scratches, which is not so serious. The wounds are superficial which more looks like it was a result of scratching hard and long. Since she has not complained of any pains other than her thighs and would not want us to bring her to the doctor, we just tried to observe her.

Two days I pleaded her to be x-rayed for any possible fracture in the pelvic bones if it was that painful whenever her thigh is moved or touched. But she would not listen to my pleas. She is already content not to make any movement, just lying there on the sofa the whole day till she fell asleep at night. On the third day, my wife and I finally brought her to the hospital.

The doctor on duty at the emergency room examined her. Her blood pressure and blood sugar were checked, the doctor would like to know what caused her dizziness. The doctor is puzzled what could be the source of the pain on her thigh, there is no swelling. He ordered for an x-ray to be conducted. The result of the blood test indicated that her sugar level at 210 is well the above normal level. Her blood pressure is also quite high at 150. Then the result of the x-ray indicated there is no fracture on her thigh. However, it was decided that she be confined at least a day in the hospital to conduct more test and to observe her further.

As she lay there helplessly, she looks so vulnerable, so helpless, with a worried look on her face. What is it she is worrying about, no one knows.

As I watch her, some painful memories of the past came to haunt me once again. At that moment, I could still see vividly how she made life challenging for all of us, especially my wife and my children. How she would throw tantrums or start a quarrel with my wife or any of my children for any reasons which is irrational at most time; frequently, it would be whenever she would learn of our activities with Couples for Christ community, even just attending our regular household meeting or of any community event our whole family have to attend. If I do not side with her or took her reckoning, which is most of the time, she will leave the house without anyone knowing where she would be. Her disappearance would last for one to three months.

Of course, I would be worried for her. In fact, everyone would be worried. I would make calls for anyone who might have knowledge of where she could be staying. Later on, either a relative or one of her friends would call me in the office to inform where she could be found. Naturally, I would be going to the place and talk to her. It would only be after two days to a week that she would be persuaded to come with me back to our house.

Her propensity to emote her misguided or wrong notion of her sensibilities towards those who will defy her fancies (real or imagined) will surely get her irritating attention. Time has come that some of my children had expressed their animosity toward their grandmother. Regretfully, all I can say to them is to give her more understanding. Being a widow (my father died in January, 1991) there is no one who will take care of her except me, her only living son (my only brother died at a young age of 27 in October, 1986). Though, sometimes my wife would also air her grievances mildly, she would still talk to our children about giving their understanding toward their grandmother careful not to be affected by her own sensibility. For this, I have admired her most since she is the one who gets the irritant most often.

Now as she lays there so helpless, I want to tell her what I feel, what I truly feel for her. How I would also like to tell her how wrong she was in treating my wife miserably and the psychological and emotional stress she has brought to everyone in my household. That even though she has done what she has done to us I will still be her son. A son who, in spite of seeing that his family is being wronged, is still willing to do his God-given duty towards her mother; especially in her old age. And I would like to assure her, that I shall not be alone. My wife who, despite all the demeaning words she received from her, despite the emotional susceptibility to fear her brought about by the unstable relationship, still loves her and is still keenly convicted to be at my side taking care of her. It is not that I have not tried to talk to her about these matters in the past. I did, but every time the discussion will not produce anything to settle the matter, rather it will just be another occasion to deepen the imagined hurts she harbors in her heart.

Still, I held on to my emotion. I think this is not the time. What is best at this moment of her helplessness is to show in deed what I would like her to feel. To let her feel our love for her; to let her feel that we shall care for her till the end of her days.

And I pray to God that she sees it clearly.

Sex and Marriage

We know that sexual intimacy before marriage is immoral. However, to some the statement will be debatable, and to some it is still the rule.

But do we really know the reason why? Do we believe it is immoral because we just inherited the idea that it is wrongful to have pre-marital or extra-marital sex through our parents or because this is what was said by our priest or pastor, or this is the custom we have grown up with?

However, some statistics and studies suggest otherwise. There are now more couples living together without going into a more lasting bond that is marriage compared to that of twenty or more years ago. The reasons may be varied. Here in the Philippines, one of the reasons may be economic, which is a very flimsy reason. A simple wedding ceremony can suffice if the couple will. Also, there are not a few instances wherein the woman is already in the second, third or more months of her pregnancy at the time of her wedding day. I have also often heard that marriage is just a piece of paper signed by the man and woman with the agreement to live together as a family. Today, we are also hearing of same-sex marriages.

Time has indeed changed, some of what we conceived before as immoral is becoming the norm today - all in the guise of liberalism, progress, or practicality.

Consider the facts that there are more children raised by a single parent than it was twenty or more years ago. Sadly, unknown to many this situation have an effect on children. It is said that evidences suggest that children raised by a two parent household perform better than those of single parent household. Studies also shows high probability that a child raised in a single parent household may end up being pregnant during their teens or of having a failed marriage.

This subject matter came to me one day as I was reading my daily devotional book, Word Among Us. And I chance upon this article by Fr. Alfredo Hernandez entitled Why Wait? I kept thinking hard whether I would write something about this subject. I do not claim to be an expert on this. However, I came to the conclusion that I have to share this with all of you as I find this subject pertinent to all, a very good reason why sexual intimacy have to wait for marriage.

Fr. Hernandez defined four characteristics of a Christian Marriage:

1. It is forever: The permanence of the couple’s love for each other represents Christ’s eternal commitment to us. Christian marriage must last forever. It should withstand the tests of times. The longer each one clings on to the other, the sweeter the relationship becomes.

2. It is faithful: The couple’s mutual faithfulness witnesses to the love of Christ, who will never abandon his people. For better or for worse... For richer or poorer... In sickness and in health... This is the vow each of them made at the front of the altar of God- this is what makes it sacred. It is not just a matter of signing a contract of agreement between two people.

3. It is fruitful: This aspect of Christ’s love is expressed by the couple’s willingness to bring forth new life. Sexual intimacy is the crown of the couple’s relationship. It has a purpose other than being a self satisfying action. Sexual intimacy is not an act just for the satisfaction of one’s biological impulses; rather it is an act with a much deeper purpose done with love. Love will bear the fruition of the act. Both has to be ready to face the sacrifices rearing a child entails.

4. It is self-giving: Christ sacrificed himself totally for the church; similarly, husband and wife commit themselves to withhold nothing from one another.
Fidelity to each other must be held sacred. Each one now has to live for each other and to their offspring. A new chapter in their lives is now opened wherein two hearts have become as one – same vision, same mission, same purpose.

Even at the very start of the relationship, the couple has to learn how to give one’s self for the other. And I can assure you that it will entail a lot of sacrifices for each one. Sacrifices which will mean the success of the union.