What is the numinous? Modern English dictionaries define numinous several ways. It can mean spiritual, holy, divine, also ethereal, nebulous, intangible. In Rudolph Otto’s and Carl Jung’s usage spiritual, holy, divine and intangible capture most accurately the qualities they endeavour to convey to their reading audiences.
The numinous experience can never be orchestrated by methodology, for its revelation appears out of the blue catching us by surprise, serving a purpose that might be immediately understandable, or become clearer at some later date revealed through a synchronous occurrence.
The person who has undergone a numinous experience, or experiences feels a sense of peace and joy ceasing to worry unduly for they know that they are being taken care of by the Divine Mystery. They have a desire to talk to others and share their experiences. Christ's Apostles were enthusiastic to share their stories of their time with Jesus with all who cared to listen.
The sceptic will argue how can we know if it is God? Thomas Aquinas argued that we can never really understand God, but that we can relate to Him through His choice to intervene in our life. Relationship is the defining nature of our free choice to respond to the invitation of The Father to do all that He asks of us.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
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