The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1729 page)

(derived by R.
Otto
from Lat., numen, ‘divinity’). The non-rational elements in what is experienced in religions as the ‘Holy’. Experience of the numinous is of a
mysterium tremendum fascinans et augustum
. As
mysterium
, the
numen
is revealed as a ‘wholly other’. As
tremendum
, it generates boundless awe and wonder in the person who experiences it. As
fascinans
, it entrances and captivates the individual. It is of supreme subjective value for humans and possesses in itself objective value (
augustum
).
For Otto, the whole course of the history of religions is determined by an evolving apprehension of the fundamental elements of the numinous. It is therefore held to be the core of all religion.

 
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Nun
.

A member of a religious order of women. The term is technically used of Christian women who belong to a religious order with solemn vows, but it is used more loosely in practice, and is applied at times to women in orders in other religions—e.g. to bhik
un
s in Buddhism (see
BHIK
U
).

 
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Nunc Dimittis
.

The song of the old man Simeon (Luke 2. 29–32). The name comes from the opening words in Latin.

 
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Nuncio
or apostolic nuncio
.

A representative (with status of ambassador) of the
pope
, appointed initially to the countries which were signatories to the Convention of Vienna in 1815. He is usually a titular archbishop.

 
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(Arab.). Light, and especially
All
h
as the source of light (Qur’
n 24. 35). The cultivation of the vision of God through the contemplation of light became a widespread practice, particularly among
S
f
s
.