In his book , the German theologian , argued that there was one common factor to all religious experience, . It is independent of the cultural background and is about a feeling. In particular, it is about the experience of the holy. However, the word ‘holy’ has many associations, so he used the word ‘ ’ (Latin for ‘divine presence'). It is something that is ‘wholly other’ than the natural world, and beyond comprehension.
He analysed this type of experience in terms of the Latin phrase . The component of the numinous experience comprises of three elements:
– inspiring awe
– inspires feeling of humility
– impression of vigour and compelling.
The component has two elements:
– totally outside our normal experience
– the person is caught up in the experience.