Ethical perspectives on the Manguni bird: Integrating nature, humanity, and divine connection

The Manguni bird plays a central role in the cosmology of the Minahasa people as a symbol of nature, society and spirituality. In Minahasa tradition, the Manguni is not only regarded as a natural sign that provides clues about the good or bad nature of an event but also as a divine intermediary that...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Marbun, Rencan C. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: HTS teologiese studies
Year: 2025, Volume: 81, Issue: 1
Further subjects:B Manguni Bird
B Minahasa
B Social Cohesion
B Contextual Theology
B Ecology
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Summary:The Manguni bird plays a central role in the cosmology of the Minahasa people as a symbol of nature, society and spirituality. In Minahasa tradition, the Manguni is not only regarded as a natural sign that provides clues about the good or bad nature of an event but also as a divine intermediary that brings messages from God (Opo Empung). Furthermore, Manguni serves as a social symbol that strengthens the cohesion of the Minahasa community, connecting humans, nature and God in spiritual harmony. This article discusses the role of Manguni in three aspects: as an ecological sign reflecting harmony with the environment, as a social bond representing the collective identity of Minahasa and as a medium that communicates divine messages. The article also highlights the importance of integrating ecology into contextual Christian theology, especially in regions rich in local cultural traditions.Contribution: This study seeks to formulate a new approach that accommodates the relevance of local spirituality and ecological theology, with Manguni as a key symbol in the relationship between humans, nature and God.
ISSN:2072-8050
Contains:Enthalten in: HTS teologiese studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.4102/hts.v81i1.10297