göttliches

Göttliches is a German term that refers to the divine or to the divine nature. In everyday and scholarly usage it is most commonly realized as the noun phrase das Göttliche, which denotes a transcendental reality, divine quality, or ultimate principle beyond ordinary experience. The concept is employed across religious, philosophical, and literary contexts to speak of what is understood as holy, sacred, or supremely significant.

Etymology and grammar: Göttlich is an adjective meaning divine. It forms the noun das Göttliche when used to name a concept rather than an attribute. In modern German, it is more usual to refer to “das Göttliche” outright; the form Göttliches may occur in poetic or stylistic uses as a nominalized adjective or in constructions where the definite article is implied or omitted.

Usage and scope: In theology, das Göttliche denotes the nature or essence of God, or a divine presence, sometimes contrasted with human or natural reality. In philosophy and mysticism, it can refer to an ultimate reality, a universal principle, or the experience of the sacred. In literature, the term is used to evoke awe, sublimity, or a sense of the transcendent. The concept is flexible and its exact connotation depends on tradition—monotheistic, polytheistic, or secular-spiritual contexts.

Relation to related terms: Göttlichkeit, meaning divinity or deity-ness, and Gottheit, meaning deity, are closely related. Götterwelt refers to the world of gods, a broader context in which the divine may be discussed. The term Göttliches is distinct from these in its emphasis on the divine quality or principle rather than a specific deity.