teologji

Teologji is the branch of knowledge that studies the nature of the divine, the meaning of religious beliefs, and the implications of faith for individuals and communities. It involves analyzing how communities understand God or ultimate reality, interpreting sacred texts, and reflecting on religious experience, practice, and ethics. The discipline seeks to articulate coherent accounts of religious truth while engaging with other forms of knowledge.

Etymology: The term teologji comes from Latin theologia, from Greek theologia, from theos (god) and logos (study or discourse).

Scope and branches: Teologji encompasses several subfields, including systematic theology (constructing coherent doctrinal systems), biblical theology (interpretation of scriptural texts in their historical settings), historical theology (tracing how beliefs have developed), philosophical theology (conceptual analysis of divine attributes and existence), practical theology (translation of beliefs into pastoral and ethical practice), and comparative or contextual approaches (examining beliefs across traditions and in particular social contexts).

Methods: The field uses exegetical methods, philosophical argument, hermeneutics, historical criticism, and comparative analysis, often aiming for dialogue with philosophy, science, and secular disciplines while engaging with particular faith traditions.

History: Teologji has roots in ancient religious reflection and, in the Christian tradition, was shaped by patristic and scholastic thinkers, the Reformation, and modern critical scholarship. In the 20th and 21st centuries, it expanded to diverse currents such as liberation theology, feminist theology, process theology, and contextual or interreligious theology.

Role and critique: It functions within religious communities and in secular academia, contributing to ethics, public discourse, and interreligious dialogue, while facing debates over faith-based claims, religious pluralism, and the relationship between theology and science.