Theology

Theology is the study of religious belief, focusing on the nature of divinity and the history behind religion. It is taught in universities and seminaries as an academic subject. Theologians look at the supernatural, explore how we know about the divine, and ask big questions about revelation—how people believe that God, gods, or deities can interact with our world.

People who study theology use many different ways to understand religious ideas. They might look at personal experiences, think deeply about ideas, study cultures, or examine history. This helps them understand, explain, or discuss many religious topics. Theology can help someone understand their own religion better, learn about other religions, or even question religious beliefs.

Theology can also be used to support or change a religious tradition, or to compare different beliefs. It helps people use religious ideas to deal with current problems or to think about the world in new ways. Whether someone is deeply faithful or simply curious, theology offers tools to explore the big questions about divinity and meaning.

Etymology

Main article: History of theology

Plato (left) and Aristotle in Raphael's 1509 fresco The School of Athens

The word "theology" comes from old Greek words: theos meaning "god" and logia meaning "sayings" or "reasoning." Over time, it moved from Greek into Latin, then French, and finally into English by around 1362.

In ancient Greece, thinkers like Plato used the idea of theology to talk about gods and what is true about them. Later, during the time of Christianity, writers used theology to study and discuss religious teachings, especially those from the Bible. As time went on, theology grew to include the study of many religions, not just Christianity. Today, theology can also mean a set of ideas or beliefs about how things should be done.

In religion

The term theology is used to study religions that believe in a god or gods. It looks at how people think and talk about these divine beings. Some think this word only works for religions with a single god, while others believe it can be used more widely.

Abrahamic religions

Judaism

Main articles: Jewish principles of faith, Midrash, and Talmud

In Jewish theology, thinking about religious ideas often happens in synagogues and through discussions about Jewish laws and stories. This theology also connects to how people should behave.

Christianity

Illustration of the Jewish theologian Maimonides.

Main articles: Christian theology and Neoplatonism

Further information: Diversity in early Christian theology, Great Apostasy, Nontrinitarianism, Son of God (Christianity), and Trinity

Christian theology studies Christian beliefs and practices. It looks at old writings called the Old and New Testaments, along with Christian traditions. People use these to understand, compare, defend, or improve Christianity.

Islam

Main article: Aqidah

Thomas Aquinas, an influential 13th century theologian.

Further information: Kalam, List of Muslim theologians, and Schools of Islamic theology

In Islam, talking about religious ideas is called Kalam. Studying Islamic laws and practices is also very important.

Dharmic religions

Buddhism

Further information: Buddhist philosophy and Trikāya

Some people prefer to call studying Buddhist ideas Buddhist philosophy because Buddhism does not believe in a creator god. But others still use the term theology to talk about understanding what a Buddha is.

Hinduism

Islamic scholar, jurist and theologian Malik ibn Anas.

See also: Vedanta, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism

Hindu theology looks at ideas about the universe, gods, and the soul. Different schools of Hindu thought have different views on these topics.

Other religions

Shinto

In Japan, the study of Shinto beliefs has been called shingaku since old times. Today, other words like kyōgaku and shūgaku are also used.

Modern Paganism

Some modern Pagan groups, like Wicca and Druidry, also use theology to think about their beliefs, even though these religions often focus more on practices than on ideas.

Topics

Further information: Outline of theology

Theology is the study of beliefs about gods and spirits. It looks at whether there is a divine power and explores ideas about it, like if it is part of nature, beyond nature, in our minds, or in our relationships with each other. The main goal of theology is to collect, organize, and understand these ideas and experiences. It also helps people think about how to live a good life based on these beliefs.

People study theology in universities and special schools for religious learning. It looks at questions about how we know about the divine and what messages from the past might tell us. While theology focuses on religious ideas, other areas like the study of religion’s effects on the mind and brain also help us understand these topics.

History of academic discipline

The study of theology in schools and universities is as old as these places themselves. Early centers of learning include Taxila for Vedic learning, the Platonic Academy in Athens, China’s Taixue for Confucian teaching, the School of Nisibis for Christian learning, Nalanda in India for Buddhist learning, and the Moroccan University of Al-Karaouine and Al-Azhar University in Cairo for Islamic learning.

The first universities grew from schools linked to the Latin Church. They were important for training religious leaders and supporting the church’s teachings. Early European universities like the University of Paris, the University of Oxford, and the University of Bologna focused on theology before adding other subjects. Theology was often called the “queen of the sciences” because it was seen as the most important field of study.

Over time, other subjects became more independent, and questions arose about theology’s role in universities that value independent thinking. Today, theology is studied both as a way to prepare for religious service and as an academic field on its own, often in universities and special schools for religious training.