“The Idea of the Holy” by Rudolf Otto
In 1917, Rudolf Otto published “The Idea of the Holy”. It was one of the most influential theological books of the 20th century. This is the homepage for our study.
CONTENTS
DETAILED OUTLINE
Chapter 1. The Rational and the Non-Rational – pages 1 to 4
Chapter 2. ‘Numen’ and the ‘Numinous’ – pages 5 to 7
Chapter 3. The Elements in the ‘Numinous’ and ‘Creature-Feeling’ – pages 8 to 11
Chapter 4. Mysterium Tremendum – The Analysis of ‘Tremendum’ – pages 12 to 24
- The Element of Awefulness – pages 13 to 19
- The Element of Overpoweringness (“majestas”) – pages 20 to 23
- The Element of Energy or Urgency – pages 23 to 24
Chapter 5. Mysterium Tremendum – The Analysis of ‘Mysterium’ – pages 25 to 30
- The ‘Wholly Other’ – pages 25 to 30
Chapter 6. The Element of Fascination – pages 31 to 41
Chapter 7. Analogies and Associated Feelings – pages 42 to 51
- The Law of the Association of Feelings – pages 43 to 45
- Schematization – pages 46 to 51
Chapter 8. The Holy as a Category of Value – pages 52 to 61
- Sin and Atonement – pages 52 to 61
Chapter 9. Means of Expression of the Numinous – pages 62 to 73
- Direct Means – pages 62 to 63
- Indirect Means – pages 64 to 67
- Means by which the Numinous is expressed in Art – pages 68 to 73
Chapter 10. The Numinous in the Old Testament – pages 74 to 84
Chapter 11. The Numinous in the New Testament – pages 85 to 96
Chapter 12. The Numinous in Luther – pages 97 to 112
- Section 1 – pages 101 to 103
- Section 2 – pages 104 to 105
- Section 3 – pages 105 to 106
- Section 4 – pages 106 to 112
Chapter 13. The Two Processes of Development – pages 113 to 115
Chapter 14. The Holy as an A Priori Category, Part 1 – pages 116 to 120
Chapter 15. Its Earliest Manifestations – pages 121 to 135
- Phenomenon 1. Magic – pages 121 to 123
- Phenomenon 2. Worship of the Dead – pages 123 to 124
- Phenomenon 3. Souls and Spirits – page 124
- Phenomenon 4. Power – page 125
- Phenomenon 5. Homage to natural objects – pages 125 to 126
- Phenomenon 6. Fairy-Tales – page 126
- Phenomenon 7. Daemons – pages 127 to 128
- Phenomenon 8. Clean vs. Unclean – pages 127 to 128
- Phenomenon 9. Parallels – pages 128 to 129
- Phenomenon 10. The house of Elohim – pages 129 to 133
- Phenomenon 11. Felt Surmise – pages 134 to 135
Chapter 16. The ‘Cruder’ Phases – pages 136 to 139
Chapter 17. The Holy as an A Priori Category, Part 2 – pages 140 to 146
Chapter 18. The Manifestations of the Holy and the Faculty of Divination – pages 147 to 158
Chapter 19. Divination in Primitive Christianity – pages 159 to 165
Chapter 20. Divination in Christianity Today – pages 166 to 178
Chapter 21. History and A Priori in Religion: Summary and Conclusion – pages 179 to 182
TERMINOLOGY
Demon. Otto uses the term “demon” not as a diabolical anti-god, but rather as a pre-god.
Fascinans.
Mysterium.
Numinous. A profound emotional experience at the heart of the world’s religions.
Sui Generis.
Tremendum.
Wholly Other. Our experience of the numinous is absolutely sui generis. It is incomparable. We find ourself utterly abashed.
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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