The Concept of Religious Experience by Rudolf Otto: A Phenomenological Approach

Rudolf Otto's concept of religious experience, particularly his notion of the "Almighty" or the numinous, describes a divine presence that transcends logical understanding and evokes deep emotional and intuitive responses. Using a phenomenological approach, the study analyzes Otto's key text, Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy), along with his personal documents. Otto's work provides a framework for examining religious experiences that go beyond ordinary or everyday experience, offering important theoretical and methodological contributions to the phenomenology of religion. His insights help in understanding the complexity and richness of religious experiences in the modern world.

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Abstract

This study investigates and analyzes the religious experiences of Rudolf Otto using a phenomenological approach. The main objective of this study is to explore Otto's interpretation of religious experience and his contribution to the field of phenomenology. The research problem focuses on understanding how Otto's concept provides a framework for examining religious experiences that go beyond ordinary or everyday experience. The study uses a literature review, document analysis, and phenomenological analysis of Otto's works, including his important text, Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy), and his personal documents, such as letters, journals, and notes. The study reveals that Otto's concept of the "Almighty" refers to a divine presence that transcends logical understanding and evokes deep emotional and intuitive responses. These findings demonstrate the importance of Otto's contribution to the phenomenology of religion, both theoretically and methodologically. Otto's insights have provided important insights for examining the complexity and richness of religious experiences in the modern world.