RS260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Mysterium Tremendum, Rudolf Otto, Thematic Relation
Document Summary
Phenomenon: an experience of something (difficult to explain). Attempting to explain/study people"s experiences without judgement of whether it"s real or not. The impact on the experiencer makes the experience worth studying. Non-reductionist view of these experiences (i. e. not simply a function of something else). Looks at how people experience these experiences and what the experiences are (e. g. the feeling of awe at the top of a mountain). Not all experiences have to be empirically measured. Relies on testimonies of individuals and then comparing them to other traditions. Tries to be empirical in study, though recognizes that this is impossible. Anti-reductionist religion cannot simply be reduced to a function in social phenomenon. Numen and numinous you can never fully describe a religious experience; it is ineffable. It does not have to be dramatic or miraculous, it can be a feeling. Experiencer has a sense of awe in the presence of an inexplicable power.
