theology

the·ol·o·gy

noun \thē-ˈä-lə-jē\

plural the·ol·o·gies

Definition of THEOLOGY

1

: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world

2

a : a theological theory or system <Thomist theology> <a theology of atonement>

b : a distinctive body of theological opinion <Catholic theology>

3

: a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary

Examples of THEOLOGY

1. He has an interest in theology and pastoral work.
2. The bishop was opposed to the group's theology.

Origin of THEOLOGY

Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Rhymes with THEOLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

theology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Study of the nature of God and the relationship of the human and divine. The term was first used in the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers to refer to the teaching of myth, but the discipline expanded within Christianity and has found application in all theistic religions (see theism). It examines doctrines concerning such subjects as sin, faith, and grace and considers the terms of God's covenant with humankind in matters such as salvation and eschatology. Theology typically takes for granted the authority of a religious teacher or the validity of a religious experience. It is distinguished from philosophy in being concerned with justifying and explicating a faith, rather than questioning the underlying assumptions of such faith, but it often employs quasi-philosophical methods.