Rudolf Otto quotes

Rudolf Otto was a German theologian and scholar of religion, renowned for his work on the concept of the sacred. His book "The Idea of the Holy" introduced the term "numinous" to describe the mysterious and awe-inspiring aspects of religious experience. He profoundly influenced modern religious studies and philosophy of religion. Here are 5 of his quotes:

But aesthetics is not religion, and the origins of religion lie somewhere completely different. They lie anyway, these roses smell too sweet and the deep roar of the breaking waves is too splendid, to do justice to such weighty matters now.

Rudolf Otto

Down below the broad, roaring waves of the sea break against the deep foundation of the rock. But high above the mountain, the sea, and the peaks of rock the eternal ornamentation blooms silently from the dark depths of the universe.

Rudolf Otto

To see this place would truly be worth a trip to India in itself, and from the spirit of the religion that lived here one can learn more in an hour of viewing than from all the books ever written.

Rudolf Otto

Heavy pillars, carved from the rock, bear the roof. Slowly, one's eyes become accustomed to the dim light; then they can make out marvelous representations from Indian mythology carved on the walls.

Rudolf Otto