What kind of experience is characterized by the feeling of encountering a greater power?

The experience characterized by the feeling of encountering a greater power is best described by mystical experience. A mystical experience typically involves a profound sense of union with the divine or a deeper reality, often accompanied by feelings of peace, transcendence, and an overwhelming sense of connection to something greater than oneself. These moments can lead to significant personal transformation and insight, which are common in the realm of spirituality and religion.

While conversion experiences focus on a shift in belief or commitment to a faith, and religious revelations are associated more with divine communication or insight into truth, mystical experiences emphasize an encounter with the transcendent that does not necessarily require a change in beliefs or doctrines. Transcendent experiences can also involve encountering greater power, but the term is broader and may not always imply the profound depth of union typically described in mystical experiences. Therefore, the notion of a greater power is most accurately represented within the framework of a mystical experience.