An essay published on July 11, 2026, by SunStar Echica under The Partisan column questions the blind obedience demanded from followers of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), particularly regarding political endorsements. The author argues that the numbers the sect claims to deliver to chosen candidates do not align with official census statistics, and that followers are instructed to "Obey and never complain," a more extreme version of the military's "Obey before you complain."
Biblical Examples of Questioning Faith
The essay draws on biblical figures to illustrate that questioning is integral to faith. Job, described as blameless and upright, challenged divine justice when he suffered undeservedly, and God eventually answered him. The Virgin Mary asked the angel Gabriel, "How can this be when I know no man?" before accepting her role. Jesus himself cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"—a question of abandonment.
The Role of Reason in Faith
The author cites Thomas Aquinas, whose theological reflections always began with a question, contrasting with later neo-scholastic traditions that start with declarative statements. The essay asserts that a mature faith requires the courage to ask questions, and that leaders demanding blind obedience instrumentalize religion for selfish ends. It references theologian Avery Dulles: "When the mind is full of certitude, it has no more room for God."
Critique of Unquestioning Loyalty
The author criticizes the INC and "catolicos cerrados" (closed-minded Catholics) for lacking the willingness to question. The essay poses unanswered questions: why prayers go unanswered despite sincerity, why suffering persists for churchgoers, and why corrupt people prosper. It concludes that God gave humans the gift of reason, even allowing them to deny God's existence, and that surrendering this gift is a grave offense.
