Religious Attitudes and Prosocial Engagements of Filipino Catholic Youth
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between religious attitudes and prosocial inclinations among selected Catholic youth informants in three locations in northern Philippines, emphasizing how their religious attitudes and behavior help shape their engagement in socio-civic activities. Drawing on local studies, it examines how student religiosity translates into concrete social action. The research frames student religiosity within a three-dimensional model of religious attitudes, aligning with their lived religious perspectives. Using a quantitative survey design, the study analyzes data from selected Filipino Catholic students in central and northern regions of the country to assess their religious orientations. Overall, it evaluates the role of belief in God and religiosity as foundations for prosocial behavior through a structured measure of religion. Guided by Richard Osmer’s reflective practice paradigm and its four tasks within the hermeneutical circle, the study interprets its findings to offer insights into the connection between faith and social responsibility. The study has significant implications for Catholic youth ministry, which can strengthen its formation programs by leveraging young people’s existing religious attitudes to deepen their commitment to social transformation.

