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Should religion influence laws? Most Pinoys think so – study

MANILA, Philippines — Even with the constitutional provision guaranteeing the separation of church and state, a recent study found that a majority of Filipinos believe that religion – specifically the Bible – should have a “great deal of influence” on national laws.

In a 2024 study released this week, US think tank Pew Research Center looked at how religion is viewed in relation to national identity and society in three dozen countries, including the Philippines.

Survey respondents were asked about the importance of belonging to the “historically predominant religion” in their country “to being truly part of your national identity,” the importance of having a leader who shared their religious beliefs and how much influence the “historically predominant religion’s sacred text” should have on the laws of the country.

Respondents from the Philippines, a predominantly Christian nation, were among those who recognized the significant impact of religion on their society.

For instance, when asked how much influence the Bible should have on national laws, 51 percent or a slim majority said a “great deal,” while another 30 percent said it should have a “fair amount of influence.”

Only 18 percent said the sacred text of the country’s historically predominant religion should have “not too much” or “no influence at all.”

“In general, those who say the Bible currently has great influence on the law (are) more likely to say it should have a great deal of influence,” Pew Research Center said.

In the Philippines, 74 percent of the respondents said the Bible either has a “great deal” or “fair amount” of influence on current laws, compared to 26 percent who said that it had “not too much” or “no influence at all.”

However, when asked which should have more influence on laws in case the sacred text is in conflict with the will of the people, only 37 percent of Filipino respondents chose the Bible, while 45 percent said it should be the will of the people.

The remaining 18 percent were those who initially responded that the Bible should have “not too much” or “no influence at all” on national laws.

The study was released as debates rage on regarding the proposed comprehensive

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