Numinous experiences

• What is a numinous?

  A different type of religious experience.
• What are the key feelings involved with a numinous experience?

  • shocked
  • excited
  • awe
  • fear
• What are the key aspects of a numinous experience?

  .in terms of the Latin phrase - mysterium tremendum et fascinans
• What does mysterium mean?

  • wholly other
  • totally other
  • separate from us
  • distinct from us
• What does tremendum mean?

  • inspires awe and fear
  • overpowers us
  • enthuses (excites) us
• What does fascinans mean?

  • fascinating/attractive
• Who is the scholar for numinous experiences?

  Rudolph Otto
• What idea did Otto introduce?

  Otto introduced the idea that all religious experiences are about encountering something totally other. This is the basis of all religion. He used the word ‘numinous‘ to describe this object of religious experience.
• Where does the word ‘numinous’ come from?

  The Latin word ‘numen’ meaning ‘holy‘ or ‘divine’. it involves the sense of being in the presence of an awesome power but feeling distinctly separate from it.
• What other ideas have we already studied of God that cohere with Otto’s idea?

  God’s transcendence

  God’s omnipotence
• In summary, what does Otto’s philosophy fo us on?

  • emphasises difference between the ‘experiencer’ and the deity (God) - the separation between God and humans.
  • focuses on dependency on the external - God is more powerful than us
  • Often sudden, unprepared for - yet totally captivating - I expected but engrossed in it.
• What does Otto say our feelings are?

  
  

  • Sui generis - of their own kind/ unique
  • Non-rational - can‘t think them through or make an intellectual decision. They happen to you.