What type of experience might lead someone to believe in God, characterized by sensing a presence greater than oneself?

The belief in God that arises from sensing a presence greater than oneself is best characterized as a numinous feeling. This type of experience is often described as an encounter with the divine or a profound sense of awe and wonder that goes beyond ordinary understanding. Individuals who report numinous feelings often describe them as life-changing moments where they feel an overwhelming sense of connection to something larger than themselves, which can lead to a deep belief in God or a higher power.

In contrast, conversion usually refers to a significant change in one’s religious beliefs, often following a personal crisis or a moment of clarity, but it does not inherently imply that one feels a transcendent presence. Miracles involve extraordinary events that are interpreted as direct acts of God but do not necessarily invoke a feeling of the sacred in the same personal way. Prayer is a means of communication with God or a higher power but may not evoke the same sense of the numinous itself. Hence, the distinct nature of a numinous feeling makes it the most fitting answer for this question.