Blood Sacrifice and the Dynamics of Supernatural Power among the Manobo of Mindanao: Some Missiological Implications

Abstract

A significant feature of the Manobo worldview is the fact that all supernatural beings, including the supreme being, are considered to be ghoul spirits with an insatiable lust for human flesh and blood. This ghoul spirit complex is almost certainly a major reason why this Manobo group seems reluctant to embrace biblical Christianity. Seen from this background, the Christian emphasis on the sacrifice of Christ and the symbolic partaking of flesh and blood in the Lord's Supper is abhorrent to many Manobo people. This article presents a taxonomy of Manobo blood sacrifice and offers some suggestions for Christian workers who are sharing the gospel with Manobo people in this area.