Rudolf Otto’s “The Idea of the Holy”, His Critics, and the Study of Religion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29327/2401156.20-8%20Keywords:
Sacred, Numinous, Rudolf Otto, Phenomenology of Religion, Religious StudiesAbstract
This article examines Rudolf Otto's reconstruction of the concept of the sacred in The Idea of the Holy [1917], centered on numinous experience as a category irreducible to rational and moral schemes. It seeks to highlight how Otto establishes this category as an innate element of the human psyche, distinguishing it from purely rational or ethical interpretations. In contrast, we present contemporary academic critiques that accuse this classical view of being “disguised theology” for neglecting historical and social contexts. The discussion then turns to the proposal for a "New Style Phenomenology," which seeks to balance an understanding of religious essence with the rigor of the empirical sciences. Finally, the role of Religious Studies as an autonomous discipline essential for cultural mediation in pluralistic societies is highlighted.
References
BELLOTTI, Karina Kosicki. História das religiões: conceitos e debates na era contemporânea. História: Questões & Debates, [S. l.], v. 55, n. 2, 2011. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufpr.br/historia/article/view/26526. Acesso em: 15 maio 2026.
HOCK, Klaus. Introdução à Ciência da Religião. São Paulo: Edições Loyola, 2010.
OTTO, Rudolf. O Sagrado: os aspectos irracionais na noção do divino e sua relação com o racional. Petrópolis: Vozes, 2007.
PORTELA, Bruno de Oliveira Silva. A perspectiva do sagrado na obra de Rudolf Otto. Revista Transformar, 8ª ed., 2016. Disponível em: https://www.fsj.edu.br/transformar/index.php/transformar/article/view/62. Acesso em: 15 maio 2026.
USARSKI, Frank. Os Enganos sobre o Sagrado – Uma Síntese da Crítica ao Ramo "Clássico" da Fenomenologia da Religião e seus Conceitos-Chave. Rever, n. 4, p. 73-95, 2004. Disponível em: https://www.pucsp.br/rever/rv4_2004/p_usarski.pdf. Acesso em: 11 maio 2026.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Paulo Gabriel Mota Bonfim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
I (we) submit this original and unpublished work, authored by me (us), for review by the journal Davar Polissêmica, an interdisciplinary journal of Religious Studies, Theology, and related fields, based at IPEMIG College, and I (we) agree to share the copyrights pertaining to this work with DAVAR and that its “content, or part thereof, may be copied, distributed, edited, remixed, and used to create other works, always within the limits of copyright and related rights legislation,” in any medium, whether print or electronic, provided that credit is given to the text and its authorship, including references to DAVAR. I (we) further declare that there is no conflict of interest between the topic addressed, the author(s), and any companies, institutions, or individuals.
I (We) further acknowledge that DAVAR is licensed under a CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) LICENSE: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Therefore, I (WE) PERMIT, “to maximize the dissemination of information,” that others distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this work, provided they give proper credit for the original creation.
