theologies

Theologies are systematic attempts to understand, articulate, and examine beliefs about the divine, ultimate reality, and the meaning of life. They address questions about the nature of God or gods, creation, revelation, morality, salvation, eschatology, and human destiny. Theologies can belong to a specific religious tradition or they can compare or synthesize ideas across multiple traditions, leading to plural or contextual theologies.

The discipline employs methods drawn from scripture, tradition, philosophy, history, and experience. Common approaches include exegesis and hermeneutics of sacred texts, historical study of doctrinal development, systematic construction of belief systems, and critical engagement with philosophy and science. The interplay between faith and reason, authority of religious sources, and the role of experience shape theological methods.

Major subfields include systematic theology, which seeks to present a coherent set of beliefs; historical theology, tracing development over time; philosophical or natural theology, examining rational justifications for belief; and practical or pastoral theology, applying beliefs to ministry and daily life. Contextual theologies, such as liberation, feminist, or postcolonial theologies, emphasize social, political, and cultural dimensions.

Theologies influence ritual practice, ethics, and public discourse, and they often engage debates over authority, interpretation, pluralism, and interfaith dialogue. Examples of theological traditions include Christian theology, Islamic theology (including kalam and scholastic traditions), Jewish theology, Hindu theology, and Buddhist and Sikh theologies, among others.