“The Idea of the Holy” by Rudolf Otto – Chapter 13
Chapter 13 of “The Idea of the Holy” by Rudolf Otto is named ‘The Two Processes of Development.’ Here is our summary.
CHAPTER 13
The Two Processes of Development
Pages 113 to 115
We permeate the rational with the non-rational. This improves our rational conception of God. Conversely, if we disregard the numinous elements, we improverish our conception of God. In that sense, the term “holy” must signify both the numinous as well as the rational. It is a combined meaning. [Page 113]
We have seen how the daemonic dread, after itself passing through various gradations, rises to the level of “fear of the gods” and then to fear of God. The daemonic power becomes divine power; dread becomes worship; complex primal feelings become religion; shudder becomes holy awe; our relative feelings toward the numen become absolute. The numen becomes God and Absolute. It is to the numen as God and Absolute that we attribute the term holy. [Page 114]
All this has been worked out purely in the sphere of the nonrational. Then, starting from the numinous consciousness, we embark upon a process of rationalization and moralization. We apply social ideals such as obligation, justice, and goodness. Those become the will of the numen. Thus we have infused our own rational ideas into the numen. [Page 114]
That infusing is seen from Amos onward. The God of Israel is absolutely Holy. Plus no law is like the God of Israel. Sacred History is permeated with this infusion of our rational ideas into the numen until we have completely moralized it. [Page 115]
THE IDEA OF THE HOLY
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
RESOURCES: Outline, Terminology, Professor Rudolf Otto
Read online at Internet Archive
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