2. Watch
YouTube Link

3. Review
How would you describe what you have just seen? Did it cause you to experience any particular emotion?

4. The Nature of Numinous Experiences
Lesson Objective: to explore the nature of numinous experiences.

5. Rudolf Otto (1969-1937) German Theologian The Idea of the Holy
Numinous derives from a Latin term numen meaning deity or spirit – numinous is an adjective meaning relating to the power or presence of a deity. Otto suggests the numinous is common to all religious experiences. He himself suggests a numinous experience is ‘the deepest and most fundamental element in all strong and sincerely felt religious emotion.’

6. The Features of the Numinous
For Otto, the numinous can be characterised by the following aspects:
An encounter with the Holy/Sacred
Sui Generis
Non-rational feelings
Mysterium tremendum
Awefulness
Overpoweringness
Urgency
Wholly Other
Fascination

7. Exemplifying the Numinous
TASK: examine the extracts in your booklet, can you find examples of each aspect of the numinous.
* An extract may have more than one feature.

8. For Otto, the numinous can be characterised by the following aspects:
An encounter with the Holy/Sacred
Sui Generis
Non-rational feelings
Mysterium tremendum
Chill
Fascination
Numbness
Awefulness
Urgency
Majesty
Dumb
Fear
Humility
Isaiah 6:1-5: A Vision of God in the Temple: 6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 The pivots[a] on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

9. For Otto, the numinous can be characterised by the following aspects:
An encounter with the Holy/Sacred
Sui Generis
Non-rational feelings
Mysterium tremendum
Chill
Fascination
Numbness
Awefulness
Urgency
Majesty
Dumb
Fear
Humility
Exodus 3:3-6: The Call of Moses: 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

10. Other examples of the numinous
in strong, sudden ebullitions of personal piety, ... in the fixed and ordered solemnities of rites and liturgies, and again in the atmosphere that clings to old religious monuments and buildings, to temples and to churches.
(Otto, 1917, The Idea of the Holy)

11. Homework
Research how the numinous is experienced in the Bhagavad Gita (a Hindu Holy Text) – focus your attention on when Arjuna meets Krishna.
DUE: NEXT LESSON

12. Examine the nature of numinous experiences. (10)
Assessment Focus
Examine the nature of numinous experiences. (10)