The idea of The Holy by R. Otto: analysis from a religious studies point of view

The article analyzes the work of R. Otto The Idea of the Holy , which had a tremendous impact on theological and religious thought in the 20th century. It is shown that the theory formalized by Otto has become the most integral scientific description of the non-reductionist approach to the study of religion. Two aspects of the numinous category introduced by R. Otto are analyzed. First: the establishment of an ontologically real center of religion. Second: the theory of numinous feeling, which is actualized upon meeting the Holy. At the same time, it is noted that Otto’s numinous feeling is the ability of religious cognition rooted in a person, combining both rational and irrational aspects. Further, the topic of the evolution of religion and the idea of religious geniuses are examined, and two sources of this idea are traced (F. Schleiermacher, W. James). Then an important feature of the “Holy” is highlighted - broad religious comparative studies - and its specificity and importance for the study of religion are noted. The religious studies analysis of the book The Idea of the Holy ends with an examination of its role in the subsequent scientific tradition, reveals the reasons for the misunderstanding of Otto’s theory in the circles of philosophers and religious scholars, which led to the erroneous correlation of his ideas with religious irrationalism and essentialism.