Only 3 of 10 Pinoys would change religion for love - SWS

Only three out of 10 Filipinos would change their religion in the name of love, a recent survey of pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) said. The SWS noted that the unwillingness to change their religion for their loved ones is strong in all religions.   The  results of the SWS survey, conducted from December 3 to 7 last year, were posted on its website.

68 percent of adult Filipinos would not change their religion in the name of love and only 31 percent would, the SWS said. This question of religion versus love was famously asked of Shamcey Supsup at last year's Miss Universe pageant where she was one of the finalists. Her answer: "If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person I love is God, who created me. I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God, too." Heart over mind "(According to the survey), when it comes to love, 54 percent of Filipinos would follow their heart while 45 percent would follow their mind," the SWS said.   Meanwhile, asssessing their love life:

• 59 percent of the respondents said they were "very happy;" 31 percent said it "could be happier," and 9 percent said they do not have a love life.

The SWS survey was conducted among 1,200  adults in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao using face-to-face interviews.   Sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey.   Unwillingness to change religion for love   The respondents who said they would not change their religion to suit their loved ones included:

• 68 percent who said they would not change their religion;
• 50 percent who said they would definitely not change their religion, and
• 18 percent who said they would likely not change their religion for their loved ones.

On the other hand, those who said they were willing to change their religion for love included:

• 31 percent who said they were willing to change their religion for love;
• 14 percent who said they would likely change their religion, and
• 17 percent who said they would definitely change their religion.

This commitment to mode of worship applied across religions.    Among Muslims:

• 56 percent said they would definitely not change their religion, and
• 17 percent likely not change their religion for their loved ones.

  Among Roman Catholics:

• 50 percent would definitely not change their religion, and
• 18 percent would likely not change their religion for their loved ones.

  Among Iglesia ni Cristo:

• 44 percent would definitely not change their religion, and
• 26 percent would likely not change their religion.

  Among Protestants:

• 51 percent would definitely not change, and
• 6 percent would likely not change their religion for love.

  "The willingness to change their religion in the name of love, is slightly higher among Protestants and Roman Catholics," the SWS noted. Comparing Catholics and Protestants, the survey said: 

• 15 percent of the Protestant respondents would "definitely" change;
• 24 percent of the Protestant repondents would "likely" change their religion;
• 18 percent of the Catholic respondents would "definitely" change, and
• 14 percent would "likely" change religion for their loved one.

  Muslim men, Protestant women more willing to change religion for love   Muslim men are more willing than Muslim women to change their religion for a loved one with a different religion, the survey said.   Among Muslim men:

• 48 percent said they would likely change their religion, and
• 52 percent said they would definitely not change their religion.

Among Muslim women:

• 3 percent said they would definitely change their religion, and
• 92 percent said would definitely not change their religion.

  Slightly more of the Protestant women than the men who are willing to change their religion for their loved one.   Among Protestant women:

• 48 percent would definitely change their religion for a loved one, while
• 52 percent would definitely not change their religion.

  Among Protestant men:

• 33 percent would definitely change their religion, while
• 62 percent definitely not change their religion.

  Heart over mind   When asked which do they follow more when it comes to love, 54 percent of adult Filipinos would follow their heart, and 45 percent would follow their mind.   "Following one's heart rather than mind over matters of love is more prevalent among married Filipinos and those with live-in partner than those who are single [without spouse or partner]," SWS said. Those who would follow their heart rather than their mind included:

• 64 percent of those with live-in partners, and
• 55 percent of those who are married.

  Among those who are single:

• 52 percent said they would follow their mind, and
• 46 percent would follow their heart.

  By age group, majorities of those aged 18-54 would follow their heart over their mind when it comes to love - 54 percent among the youth (18-24), 56 percent among the intermediate youth (25-34), 57 percent among the middle age (35-44), and 54 percent among those aged 45-54.   "There are slightly more of the older 55 years old and above, however, who would follow their mind than heart, 51 percent to 48 percent," SWS said.   Happiness with love life   The SWS said the percentages of adult Filipinos who are happy with their love life continued to rise in 2011, with 59 percent of the respondents assessing their love life to be very happy (four points above 55 percent in 2010). It was at 46 percent in 2004 and 58 percent in 2002.   "Those who say that their love life could be happier, on the other hand, declined to 31 percent 2011, from 34 percent in 2010 and 44 percent in 2004. In 2002, 32 percent said their love life could be happier," SWS said.   The percentage of those who say they have no love life in 2011 declined, down to 9 percent, from 11 percent in 2010, 11 percent in 2004 and 10 percent in 2002.   Married people   Married people and those who are with a live-partner have happier love life than those who are single. Those who considered themselves very happy included:

• 67 percent of those married; 
• 58 percent of those with a live-in partner, and
• 34 percent of those who are single.

  About two-fifths (38 percent) of those single say they have no love life, compared to only 2 percent among married people, and only 1 percent among those with live-in partner.   Happiness with love life is high across all age groups:

• 62 percent among those 25-34,
• 61 percent among those 35-44, and
• 65 percent among those 45-54.

  There are slightly less of the youngest age group 18-24 (54 percent) and the oldest 55 years old and above (53 percent) who are very happy with their love life.   There are slightly more of those aged 18-24 (13 percent), and 55 years old and above (17 percent) who say they do not have a love life.   Issue of education   The likelihood of following the heart rather than the mind in matters concerning love is higher among those from lower classes and those with less than college education.   "Sixty-one percent of the very poor class E and 51 percent of the masa class D say they would follow their heart rather than mind when it comes to love," it said.   In contrast, majority (52 percent) of middle-to-upper classes ABC would follow their mind rather than their heart.   At the same time, 52 percent of the college graduates would follow their mind than their heart when it comes to love.   Majorities of those with less education, on the other hand, would follow their heart over their mind:

• 51 percent among the high school graduates,
• 60 percent among elementary graduates and
• 54 percent among the non-elementary graduates.

  Comparison between single, married people   Those who would definitely not change their religion included: 71 percent of the single respondents, 69 percent of those who are married, and 55 percent of those with live-in partners.   Those who are unwilling to change religion for a loved one included:

• 75 percent of those who would follow their minds rather than their hearts when it comes to love, and
• 63 percent of those who would follow their hearts rather than their minds in matters of love.

  The unwillingness to change religion for love is slightly higher among those who do not have a love life (75 percent) than those who are very happy (67 percent) and who wish their love life could be happier (69 percent).   Comparison by gender   By sex, there are slightly more of Filipino men (56 percent) than women (51 percent) who would follow their heart rather than their mind when it comes to love.   Among men, 52 percent of the youth (18-24) say that when it comes to love, they are more likely to follow their mind rather than their heart.   But majorities of the older men are more likely to follow their heart over their mind:

• 59 percent among those 25-34,
• 58 percent among those 35-44,
• 58 percent among those 45-54, and
• 54 percent among those 55 and above.

  Among women, 58 percent of the oldest age group 55 years and above are more likely to follow their mind rather than their heart (41 percent).   Quite the opposite, following their heart over their mind in matters on love is higher among women aged 54 years old and below:

• 51 percent among women aged 45-54,
• 56 percent among those 35-44,
• 54 percent among those 25-34, and
• 59 percent among those 18-24.

 - VVP/KG/HS, GMA News