Numinous Experiences

Abstract Each chapter of Part II considers one or more of the kinds of spiritual experience described in the typology introduced in the previous chapter. The first chapter of Part II focuses on numinous experience, the feeling of being in touch with divinity or God. This kind of spiritual experience may constitute the prototypical religious or spiritual experience. Our own research data show that numinous experiences are the most prevalent kind of experience that people report. Each of the chapters in Part II describe William James’s perspective on the particular type of experience, followed by contemporary scholarship and psychological research, including findings related to pathological and positive aspects. Finally, the discussion turns to neuroscience research on each type of experience.