Religion: cosmic entity; Holy Ghost? 
Name: Numinus
Classification:
supporting character
based on a real person
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Power Pack (vol. 1) #51 (Dec. 1989): "The Numinus"
Creators: Jon Bogdanove, Gray Morrow
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Number of Appearances: 1
Ally: Power Pack
Gender: female
Note: universal guiding spirit
Numinus claimed relationship to other cosmic entities, specifically Eternity, Death and Galactus. Little is known about Numinus. She met the children super-heroes known as Power Pack and claimed to be the living embodiment of numinosity, a guiding spirit presiding over the affair of sentient beings throughout the universe. Numinus searches for beings in desperate situations and brings events to an improbable but awe-inspiring resolution. Numinus works to reawaken sentient beings, to whatever degree they may be made aware, to the wonder in the universe.
All of this clearly makes Numinus sound not just like a Marvel-style "cosmic entity", but also like a figure from many real-world religions. Specifically, Numinus sounds like a Marvel version of the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost), which is rather in keeping with the speculated status of the Power Pack kids as Latter-day Saints.
However "Mormonesque" Numinus may seem, non-LDS writer Jon Bogdanove (the creator of Numinus) is not thought to have injected this spiritual-leaning character in order to suggest a Latter-day Saint background (or any other specific denominational background) for the Power family. In fact, depending on one's interpretation of the character, the known actions and characteristics of Numinus could probably be mapped to the teachings of most Christian churches and other religious groups as well. Jon Bogdanove's Power Pack stories included references to an eclectic array of religious practices, values, and concepts.
The physical appearance of Numinus is based on Jewish-Catholic actress Whoopi Goldberg. This may simply be how she chose to reveal herself to the kids in Power Pack, or how their minds were able to conceptualize her. The choice of Whoopi Goldberg as the physical model for Numinus may be based on Goldberg's well-known supporting role in as a medium in the supernatural romantic comedy adventure movie "Ghost" (1990).
Power Pack (vol. 1) #51 (Dec. 1989): "The Numinus"
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numinus
- http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/n/numinus.htm
- http://www.comicboards.com/marvelguide/n2.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoopi_Goldberg