theology
Study of divinity
Theology is the study of God, gods, or religious belief—the systematic examination of divine nature, religious doctrines, and spiritual questions.
Someone studying theology might analyze scripture, debate the problem of evil, or compare how different traditions understand salvation.
The word often implies Christian thought specifically, though it applies to any religion's intellectual tradition: Islamic theology, Hindu theology.
A theology can also mean a particular system of religious beliefs: liberation theology, process theology.
Unchallengeable official beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- canonAccepted authoritative works
schism · ecumenism · apostasy · transubstantiation · predestination · atonement · sanctification · justification
Sacred religious writings
- bibleAuthoritative reference work
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- canonAccepted authoritative works
apocrypha · epistle · gospel · revelation · commentary · summa · encyclical · homiletics
Pursuit of divine union
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- meditationFocused attention practice
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- soulInnermost animating essence
salvation · redemption · enlightenment · transcendence · dark night · devotion · piety · sanctity
Following ordered procedures
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- historicalOf documented times
- practicalSuited for real use
- dogmaticsStudy of church doctrine
ecclesiology · eschatology · scholasticism · dialectical · comparative · constructive · contextual
Defense of divine goodness
- natural lawInherent moral principles
- divine commandDirective from a god
- sinViolation of divine law
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
righteousness · conscience · free will · suffering · judgment · retribution · forgiveness · repentance
Place of Christian worship
- seminaryClergy training college
- mosqueIslamic house of worship
- synagogueJewish house of worship
- templeSacred worship structure
clergy · priest · minister · rabbi · imam · monk · nun · papacy
Worshipped supernatural being
- godheadEssential nature of deity
- creatorOne who produces something
- almightyHaving complete power
- omnipotentHaving boundless power
omniscient · omnipresent · transcendent · immutable · eternal · infinite · supreme · sovereign
Non-intervening creator belief
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- animismSpirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
dogma
Unchallengeable official beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
canon · schism · ecumenism · apostasy · transubstantiation · predestination · atonement · sanctification · justification · infallibility
scripture
Sacred religious writings
- bibleAuthoritative reference work
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
canon · apocrypha · epistle · gospel · revelation · commentary · summa · encyclical · homiletics · midrash
mysticism
Pursuit of divine union
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- meditationFocused attention practice
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
soul · salvation · redemption · enlightenment · transcendence · dark night · devotion · piety · sanctity · illumination
systematic
Following ordered procedures
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- historicalOf documented times
- practicalSuited for real use
dogmatics · ecclesiology · eschatology · scholasticism · dialectical · comparative · constructive · contextual
theodicy
Defense of divine goodness
- natural lawInherent moral principles
- divine commandDirective from a god
- sinViolation of divine law
virtue · righteousness · conscience · free will · suffering · judgment · retribution · forgiveness · repentance · absolution
church
Place of Christian worship
temple · clergy · priest · minister · rabbi · imam · monk · nun · papacy · hierarchy
deity
Worshipped supernatural being
omnipotent · omniscient · omnipresent · transcendent · immutable · eternal · infinite · supreme · sovereign · providence
deism
Non-intervening creator belief
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- animismSpirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- academic subjectschemistry, physics, biology, math, geography
- medieval learningmedieval universities, trivium, scholasticism, liberal arts, monastery
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- humanitiesphilosophy, history, literature, philosophy class, novels
- liberal artshumanities, trivium, philosophy, history, classical education
- nonfictionbiography, autobiography, biographies, history, memoir
theologyscience
Systematic study through observation
natural science · empiricism · biology · physics · chemistry
theologyatheism
Rejection of deities
antitheism · secularism · irreligion · godlessness · humanism
theologynatural philosophy
Historical term for science
cosmology · physical science · anthropology · sociology · earth science
- political theologyReligion's role in politics
- Pauline theologyBiblical interpretation from epistles
- theological debateArgument over religious doctrine
- Christian theologyStudy of God's nature
- negative theologyKnowing God through exclusion
- liberation theologyReligious movement championing the marginalized
theological, theologian, theologies, theologically, theologians, theologist, theologizing