Origin: Greek suffix -ology
Theology has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a particular system or school of religious beliefs and teachings
"Jewish theology"
"Roman Catholic theology"
the learned profession acquired by specialized courses in religion (usually taught at a college or seminary)
"he studied theology at Oxford"
The study of God, a god, or gods; and of the truthfulness of religion in general.
"The ancient philosopher spent his life dedicated to theology, seeking to understand the nature of the divine and verify religious truths."
In plain English: Theology is the study of God and religious beliefs using reason and logic to explain them.
"Many people study theology to better understand their faith and religious beliefs."
Usage: Theology is an academic discipline that systematically studies divine nature and religious truths rather than personal spiritual practice. Use this term when referring to formal scholarly analysis of faith, distinguishing it from casual belief or ritual observance.
Theology comes from the Latin word theologia, which was borrowed into English via French and Middle English. It is derived from Ancient Greek terms for "god" and "speech," originally combining to mean a discourse about divine matters.