Summary of the book "The Idea of the Holy" - Mrs. LE

Professor: Dr. REDICK
PHIL 326
LE, KIM-CHI
Date: March 20, 2008

Summary of the book “The Idea of the Holy”

Pages 25-30

We need to find out the mystery behind the word tremendum. We need to find out what this word implies. Tremendum adds to the word mysterium in way that gives it a special meaning. Tremendum can be meant as “aweful” and Mysterium can mean “mystery”. They go well together. When you say mystery, it is usually followed by aweful. Mysteries are aweful because we don’t know anything about them usually or if we do, it isn’t much. Though sometimes that is aweful isn’t a mystery either. Something that is mysterious in religion is referred to as the “wholly other”, or something that is miraculous and awe-inspiring. This is something that usually doesn’t happen. It can refer to “spirit” appearances or peculiar moments of consciousness. Anything that is mysterious is beyond our understanding.

Pages 179-186
John Chrysostom says that we, as humans, cannot understand the powers of God. This is a good example of religious feeling from a rational being. God is supposed to be among us and we are created in his image but this Father says that God is beyond our understanding. He wants to describe the greatness of God by saying that there is no way that we can understand God. Chrysostom wants to prevent people from trying to understand the power of God.

Pages 197-203
Some people believe that God is nothingness or nullity. Some believe that God doesn’t have a personality. Mysticism is wondering about the religious consciousness of it’s miraculous features. “Awefulness” refers to something that is personal and that attracts our feelings. We were created in the image of Supreme Being so God has to be considered a person and has to have a personality as well.






Professor: Dr. REDICK
PHIL 326
LE, KIM-CHI
Date: March 20, 2008

Summary of the book “The Idea of the Holy”

Pages 25-30

We need to find out the mystery behind the word tremendum. We need to find out what this word implies. Tremendum adds to the word mysterium in way that gives it a special meaning. Tremendum can be meant as “aweful” and Mysterium can mean “mystery”. They go well together. When you say mystery, it is usually followed by aweful. Mysteries are aweful because we don’t know anything about them usually or if we do, it isn’t much. Though sometimes that is aweful isn’t a mystery either. Something that is mysterious in religion is referred to as the “wholly other”, or something that is miraculous and awe-inspiring. This is something that usually doesn’t happen. It can refer to “spirit” appearances or peculiar moments of consciousness. Anything that is mysterious is beyond our understanding.

Pages 179-186
John Chrysostom says that we, as humans, cannot understand the powers of God. This is a good example of religious feeling from a rational being. God is supposed to be among us and we are created in his image but this Father says that God is beyond our understanding. He wants to describe the greatness of God by saying that there is no way that we can understand God. Chrysostom wants to prevent people from trying to understand the power of God.

Pages 197-203
Some people believe that God is nothingness or nullity. Some believe that God doesn’t have a personality. Mysticism is wondering about the religious consciousness of it’s miraculous features. “Awefulness” refers to something that is personal and that attracts our feelings. We were created in the image of Supreme Being so God has to be considered a person and has to have a personality as well.