Overview
The article examines Rudolf Otto's concept of the numinous experience, focusing on its two poles: mysterium tremendum (awe and fear) and mysterium fascinans (attraction and joy), and their centrality in religious experience.
Rudolf Otto's Influence on Religious Studies
- Rudolf Otto’s work, "The Idea of the Holy," profoundly shaped the study of religious experience and the sense of transcendence.
- Otto’s ideas build upon but go beyond thinkers like William James and Friedrich Schleiermacher.
- His framework influenced many 20th-century theologians and philosophers, both Protestant and Catholic.
The Numinous: Core Concepts
- The numinous refers to a non-rational, interior experience of the transcendent or divine (the numen).
- The numen is wholly other and manifests in two opposing but complementary feeling-poles: mysterium tremendum and mysterium fascinans.
- These poles are synthesized in the numen itself, not in individual consciousness.
Mysterium Tremendum: Awe and Dread
- This pole involves feelings of fear, awe, and creatureliness in the presence of overwhelming spiritual power.
- The fear is distinct from natural fear; it is a spiritual dread akin to encountering a ghost, with physical effects of coldness and awe.
- Includes a sense of incomprehensible mystery (stupor) and awareness of being overpowered by something wholly other.
- Also contains energy or urgency, signaling the passionate presence of the numen.
Mysterium Fascinans: Attraction and Joy
- This pole comprises feelings of attraction, fascination, goodness, and joy, drawing individuals toward fulfillment.
- Often experienced as enchanting, comforting, and supremely good, akin to love and beauty.
- In mystical or heightened numinous experiences, individuals sense unity, peace, and ecstatic joy.
The Integration of Both Poles
- The numen presents both fearsome and attractive qualities, fully integrated, often leading to a personal, relational understanding of the divine.
- Experience of the numen can instill a sense of spiritual transformation and awareness of a transcendent soul.
- The propulsion toward the numen is induced by the divine, not self-caused, deepening the sense of otherness and fulfillment.
Key Takeaways on Religious Experience
- The numinous is foundational to religion and is characterized by both awe and attraction.
- Major religions universally recognize the numen’s dual aspects, with the personal, loving nature often emphasized.
- Experiencing the numen can lead to recognizing one's transcendent nature and longing for supreme goodness.