\The*ol"o*gy\, n.; pl. {Theologies}. [L. theologia, Gr.
?; ? God + ? discourse: cf. F. th['e]ologie. See {Theism},
and {Logic}.]
The science of God or of religion; the science which treats
of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws
and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the
duties we are to practice; divinity; (as more commonly
understood) ``the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures,
the systematic exhibition of revealed truth, the science of
Christian faith and life.''
      Many speak of theology as a science of religion
      [instead of ``science of God''] because they disbelieve
      that there is any knowledge of God to be attained.
                                               --Prof. R.
                                               Flint (Enc.
                                               Brit.).
      Theology is ordered knowledge; representing in the
      region of the intellect what religion represents in the
      heart and life of man.                   --Gladstone.
{Ascetic theology}, {Natural theology}. See {Ascetic},
   {Natural}.
{Moral theology}, that phase of theology which is concerned
   with moral character and conduct.
{Revealed theology}, theology which is to be learned only
   from revelation.
{Scholastic theology}, theology as taught by the scholastics,
   or as prosecuted after their principles and methods.
{Speculative theology}, theology as founded upon, or
   influenced by, speculation or metaphysical philosophy.
{Systematic theology}, that branch of theology of which the
   aim is to reduce all revealed truth to a series of
   statements that together shall constitute an organized
   whole. --E. G. Robinson (Johnson's Cyc.).