67% of Filipino Catholics, other Christians pray at least a few times daily -- survey


Twenty-eight percent of non-Muslims, composed of Catholics, Iglesia ni Cristos, and other Christians, said they pray several times a day, while 39 percent said they pray once a day, a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

Meanwhile, 17 percent said they pray weekly (consisting of 12 percent several times a week and 5 percent every week), 9 percent monthly (consisting of 3 percent nearly every week, 4 percent two to three times a month, and 3 percent about once a month), and 3 percent occasionally (consisting of 1 percent several times a year, 1 percent about one to two times a year, and 1 percent less than once a year).

(QUIAPO CHURCH / FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO)

The results of the survey were released on Tuesday, April 27, but the poll was conducted on Nov. 21-25, 2020 among 1,500 respondents, consisting of 83 percent Catholics, 5 percent Muslims, 2 percent Iglesia ni Cristos, and 10 percent other Christians.

SWS defined other Christians as Christians other than Catholics and Iglesia ni Cristos.

In detail, SWS said 27 percent of Catholics pray several times a day, 40 percent once a day, 17 percent weekly, 9 percent monthly, and 3 percent occasionally.

Among Iglesia ni Cristos, 37 percent said they pray several times a day, 29 percent once a day, 20 percent weekly, 3 percent monthly, and 9 percent occasionally.

Among other Christians, 37 percent pray several times a day, 33 percent once a day, 14 percent weekly, 12 percent monthly, and 2 percent occasionally.

Muslim respondents were asked a slightly different question during the same survey period.

The survey asked the Muslim respondents, "how many times do you pray the Salah?"

Salah are prayers performed by Muslims, observed five times daily at prescribed times.

To this, 53 percent of the Muslim respondents said they pray the Salah five times daily, 29 percent a few times daily, 16 percent sometimes, and 2 percent over a year ago.

The November 2020 survey also found 38 percent of Filipino adults rating themselves as very religious, 50 percent moderately religious, 10 percent slightly religious, and 2 percent not religious at all.

By religion, the percentage of those who considered themselves as very religious is highest among Iglesia ni Cristos (56 percent), followed by other Christians (46 percent), Muslims (44 percent), and Catholics (36 percent).