Die numinose (van die Latynse numen, goddelike mag of teenwoordigheid) is die ervaring van ‘n geheimnisvolle, ontsagwekkende, transendente werklikheid — die besef dat jy iets teëkom wat radikaal “anders” en heilig is. Die term is gemunt deur Rudolf Otto in Das Heilige (1917), waar hy dit beskryf as ‘n mysterium tremendum et fascinans: ‘n misterie wat tegelyk vreesinboesemend en onweerstaanbaar aantreklik is. Otto het aangevoer dat hierdie ervaring nie tot rasionele kategorieë herlei kan word nie, maar ‘n eiesoortige dimensie van menslike bewussyn verteenwoordig. In klassieke teïsme dui die numinose op die wyse waarop God se teenwoordigheid ervaar word — nie as ‘n abstrakte idee nie, maar as ‘n lewende ontmoeting wat eerbied, verwondering en aanbidding ontlok. Calvyn se sensus divinitatis (die ingebore Godsbesef) staan naby hieraan: elke mens het ‘n intuïtiewe bewussyn van die Goddelike, al word dit in ons gevalle toestand onderdruk (Rom. 1:18–21).
The numinous (from the Latin numen, divine power or presence) is the experience of a mysterious, awe-inspiring, transcendent reality — the sense of encountering something radically “other” and sacred. The term was coined by Rudolf Otto in Das Heilige (1917), where he describes it as a mysterium tremendum et fascinans: a mystery that is at once terrifying and irresistibly attractive. Otto argued that this experience cannot be reduced to rational categories but represents a distinctive dimension of human consciousness. In classical theism, the numinous points to the way God’s presence is experienced — not as an abstract idea, but as a living encounter that evokes reverence, wonder, and worship. Calvin’s sensus divinitatis (the innate sense of God) stands close to this: every person has an intuitive awareness of the Divine, even though in our fallen state this awareness is suppressed (Rom. 1:18–21).