Numinous Fear: How Rudolf Otto Altered the Way We Think About the “Fear of God”

Rudolf Otto remains one of the most influential theologians of the early 20th century. One area where he made a sizable impact was on the “fear of God” discussion. From Otto’s influence emerged the theory of Numinous Fear as a means of explaining the “fear of the gods” in the ancient world. However, there are misunderstandings regarding Numinous Fear and Otto’s role in its conception. To this end, this article investigates the extent of Otto’s influence regarding Numinous Fear and the consequential effects to the “fear of God” discussion.