“Mysterium Tremendum”

Presenter
Rev Al Boyce
Date

Our sermon for this Sunday is “Mysterium Tremendum”. Our guest Minister if the Rev Al Boyce. 

 

…a double form: as the mysterium tremendum (“mystery that repels”), in which the dreadful, fearful, and overwhelming aspect of the numinous appears, and as the mysterium fascinosum (“mystery that attracts”), by which humans are irresistibly drawn to the glory, beauty, adorable quality, and the blessing, redeeming, and ..

 

What is mysterium tremendum religion? The expression mysterium tremendum was introduced by R. Otto as a basic concept in phenomenology of religion; the author translated it as schauervolles Geheimnis, “terrible mystery.” The concept forms part of a description of how the numinous can be experienced by the religious feeling of the human subject. In study of religion: Modern origin and development of the history and phenomenology of religion…The transcendent) appears as a mysterium tremendum et fascinans—that is, a mystery before which humanity both trembles and is fascinated, is both repelled and attracted. Thus, God can appear both as wrathful or awe-inspiring, on the one hand, and as gracious and lovable, on the other hand. 

 

See you Sunday.