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[[Image:Averroes.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Averroes]], like many important Muslims who wrote about God, was a writer on "[[Kalam]]". His school of [[Averroism]] had a significant influence on Christian theology.]]
'''Theology''' is a term first used by [[Plato]] in The [[Republic]] (book ii, chap 18). The term is compounded from two Greek words <i>theos</i> (god) and <i>logos</i> (rational utterance). It has been defined as [[reason]]ed [[discourse]] about God or the [[gods]], or more generally about [[religion]] or [[spirituality]].
'''Theology''' is a term first used by [[Plato]] in The [[Republic]] (book ii, chap 18). The term is compounded from two Greek words <i>theos</i> (god) and <i>logos</i> (rational utterance). It has been defined as [[reason]]ed [[discourse]] about God or the [[gods]], or more generally about [[religion]] or [[spirituality]].
== Theology and religions other than Christianity ==
== Theology and religions other than Christianity ==
In academic theological circles, there is some debate as to whether theology is an activity peculiar to the Christian religion, such that the word 'theology' should be reserved for [[Christian theology]], and other words used to name analogous discourses within other religious traditions.<ref>See, for example, the initial reaction of Dharmachari Nagapriya in his [http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com/vol3/buddhisttheology.html review] of Jackson and Makrasnky's ''Buddhist Theology'' (London: Curzon, 2000) in ''Western Buddhist Review 3''</ref> It is seen by some to be a term only appropriate to the study of religions that worship a [[deity]] (a ''theos''), and to presuppose belief in the ability to speak and [[reason]] about this deity (in ''logia'') - and so to be less appropriate in religious contexts which are organized differently (i.e. religions without a deity, or which deny that such subjects can be studied logically). ([[Hierology]] has been proposed as an alternative, more generic term.)
In academic theological circles, there is some debate as to whether theology is an activity peculiar to the Christian religion, such that the word 'theology' should be reserved for [[Christian theology]], and other words used to name analogous discourses within other religious traditions.<ref>See, for example, the initial reaction of Dharmachari Nagapriya in his [http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com/vol3/buddhisttheology.html review] of Jackson and Makrasnky's ''Buddhist Theology'' (London: Curzon, 2000) in ''Western Buddhist Review 3''</ref> It is seen by some to be a term only appropriate to the study of religions that worship a [[deity]] (a ''theos''), and to presuppose belief in the ability to speak and [[reason]] about this deity (in ''logia'') - and so to be less appropriate in religious contexts which are organized differently (i.e. religions without a deity, or which deny that such subjects can be studied logically). ([[Hierology]] has been proposed as an alternative, more generic term.)
* "What makes anyone think that "theology" is a subject at all?" - [[Richard Dawkins]]
* "What makes anyone think that "theology" is a subject at all?" - [[Richard Dawkins]]
* "The notion that religion is a proper field, in which one might claim expertise, is one that should not go unquestioned. That clergyman presumably would not have deferred to the expertise of a claimed "fairyologist" on the exact shape and colour of fairy wings." - [[Richard Dawkins]]
* "The notion that religion is a proper field, in which one might claim expertise, is one that should not go unquestioned. That clergyman presumably would not have deferred to the expertise of a claimed "fairyologist" on the exact shape and colour of fairy wings." - [[Richard Dawkins]]
== External links ==
== External links ==
