Theology

Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective. More narrowly it is the study of the nature of the divine. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries.^[1] It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the supernatural, but also deals with religious epistemology, asks and seeks to answer the question of revelation. Revelation pertains to the acceptance of God, gods, or deities, as not only transcendent or above the natural world, but also willing and able to interact with the natural world and to reveal themselves to humankind.

Not to be confused with Religious studies.

Theologians use various forms of analysis and argument (experiential, philosophical, ethnographic, historical, and others) to help understand, explain, test, critique, defend or promote any myriad of religious topics. As in philosophy of ethics and case law, arguments often assume the existence of previously resolved questions, and develop by making analogies from them to draw new inferences in new situations.

The study of theology may help a theologian more deeply understand their own religious tradition,^[2] another religious tradition,^[3] or it may enable them to explore the nature of divinity without reference to any specific tradition. Theology may be used to propagate,^[4] reform,^[5] or justify a religious tradition; or it may be used to compare,^[6] challenge (e.g. biblical criticism), or oppose (e.g. irreligion) a religious tradition or worldview. Theology might also help a theologian address some present situation or need through a religious tradition,^[7] or to explore possible ways of interpreting the world.^[8]

was an early centre of Vedic learning, possible from the 6th-century BC or earlier;^[36]^[37]^{: 140–142}

Taxila

the founded in Athens in the 4th-century BC seems to have included theological themes in its subject matter;^[38]

Platonic Academy

the Chinese delivered Confucian teaching from the 2nd century BC;^[39]

Taixue

the was a centre of Christian learning from the 4th century AD;^[40]^[41]

School of Nisibis

in India was a site of Buddhist higher learning from at least the 5th or 6th century AD;^[37]^: 149 and

Nalanda

the Moroccan was a centre of Islamic learning from the 10th century,^[42] as was Al-Azhar University in Cairo.^[43]

University of Al-Karaouine

Thealogy

on Encyclopædia Britannica

"Theology"

Chattopadhyay, Subhasis. in Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India 120(12): 664–672 (2014). ISSN 0032-6178. Edited by Swami Narasimhananda.

"Reflections on Hindu Theology"

public domain audiobook at LibriVox