The God images of Filipino Black Nazarene devotees

• Main Author: Lagman, Katherine
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Catholic Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2685
• Institution: De La Salle University

God images are the backbone upon which religious and spiritual cognitions are created. However, the empirical study on the God image construct is largely unexplored and issues of diversity were not addressed. The present study qualitatively explored the psychological aspects of devotion and the God images of Filipino Black Nazarene devotees. Seven Filipino self-professed Black Nazarene devotees, chosen using purposive sampling, participated in pakikipagkwentuhan. Applying Sikolohiyang Pilipino as framework and methodology, the results of the study illustrated how culture impacts the beliefs, practices, and perceived effects of devotion. It revealed the following beliefs: devotion is influenced by family, devotion entails faithfulness, devotion is an expression of gratitude, devotion calls for sincerity, devotion involves personal sacrifice, devotion is an act of service, and devotion is an agreement. Perceived effects of devotion are reinforced sense of pakikipagkapwa, enhanced altruism, personal transformation, having to sacrifice, surrendering one's will to God, and feeling a sense of comfort. Subsequently, it revealed God as Creator, Protector, Healer, Provider, and Judge. All images are categorized as Benevolent God images, which are associated with prosocial behaviors and a surrender style of coping. An implication of this study is on how the transformative value of devotion plays a role in the psycho-spiritual well-being of an individual. A comparative study of the God images of Filipinos from different religious orientations and from different age groups was recommend.