A phenemenological study on the devotion of select Iglesia Ni Cristo member of Majada In

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Iglesia Ni Cristo became the steadfast religion, members or devotees who kept themselves devoted to their religion despite the struggle and hardship they have encountered throughout the years. In this research, we witnessed how tight their devotion or faith in their religion. In this study, we explored the essence of the lived experience of the devotees of Iglesia Ni Cristo towards their religion that was solidly phenomenological.

METHODS

The sampling method used was convenient-purposive sampling design. A phenomenological approach is used, we conducted an in-depth interview with the selected Iglesia Ni Cristo members. Five members of Iglesia Ni Cristo with different position responded to a set of semi-structured questions. In data analysis, we used open coding to extract the concept found in the data to form a notion that would answer our research questions relevant to our research study.

RESULTS

Selected respondents who participated in our depth-interviews shared commonalities and different perspectives regarding with their intense devotion, which they assessed from 1) the particular aspects of their life wherein they have the chance to show their steadfast devotion, 2) the challenges that they encountered as they manifested their strong faith to God, and 3) the strategies to deal with these problems. In this case, they said that being part of the church is an achievement, and it will not bring them down even though difficulties hit them. Having a position in the church for years is one of the significant factors why members of Iglesia Ni Cristo remained devoted that made them grow and be active in terms of continuing it. The insights of the respondents revealed the major factors that kept them devoted, 1) their teachings, 2) having a position, 3) their struggles, and 4) the prayers that they gathered in any situation of their life.

DISCUSSIONS

The results of the research have shown that even though the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo encountered many struggles in their life, they kept their devotion tight by gathering worships, doing religious practices and also praying when they have struggles to deal. This study provides the practices that they gathered in terms of worshiping God and demonstrating the practices to other people and also to their family that is not a member as illustrated in the results. Those are factor affects the strong faith that drives them to be a part of the church that results in becoming Iglesia Ni Cristo as a steadfast religion in present time.