The Idea of the Holy

Numinous is Rudolf Otto's central concept in The Idea of Being Holy. Otto's premise is the importance of emotion in religion. Reverence, raptured awe, exaltation, and mystery are just some of the feelings associated with religion and being in the presence of Divinity. Otto recognizes that God is outside the human realm of reason and rationality. Truth, ethics, and emotion are essential to developing faith and religion. This book explores the numinous rather than the theology of religion.

Wailand Groenendyk
CCEL Staff Writer