Theology versus religion
Theology is the study of divine beings and beliefs, while religion is the custom and tradition involved in the worship of gods or God. Although the two topics relate to deities, they are different. Theology focuses on understanding their nature; religion is about how humans connect to the divine. Their attitudes and beliefs determine the relationship between them and deities.
Theology is more of knowledge about deities and beliefs, while religion is practicing the beliefs. Religions comprise doctrines, traditions, rituals, and dogmas involved in the worship of the divine. In Buddhism, theology will try to figure out the root of enlightenment and how to reach nirvana, while religious practitioners will meditate to get enlightened.
There should be a balance between theology and religion. One should seek to know more about God and strike a balance by following instructions. Unfortunately, many people have a lot of intellectual knowledge about God. Still, they don’t follow his teachings; others know little about him but do follow his doctrines and practices of religion. Although theology is becoming secular, religious adherents depend on it to understand what God wants.
One should not only seek to know more about God, but they should follow his instructions. In the bible, Jesus said, if you understand these things and do them, God will bless you. James also stressed this point by stating that hearing the law of God and not following it is like looking at your appearance in the mirror and doing nothing to improve it. Only to walk away and forget how you look. If you don’t follow the scriptures, you are deceiving yourself.
Christianity also urges followers to read the scriptures to understand what God wants. The bible may be difficult to comprehend because the cultures and traditions during its composition are different from today. However, scholars assist believers in analyzing it; they discover new revelations every day. It also emphasizes that Christianity is devotion to Jesus Christ. It’s not all about a tradition or knowing more about him but dedicating your life to him. Through him, you will get eternal life. Have faith in him. Focus on establishing a good relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ.
Theology seeks truth to justify all its assertions. It has several branches; systematic and theology of religion. Theology of religions gauges the nature of spirituality. The orderly arrangement of doctrines is known as systematic theology. While the study of theology digs deep into matters of faith, the study of religion is more analytical; it seeks to understand religious adherents’ attitudes and practices.
Apart from systematic theology, there are other branches of theology, such as exegetical theology, historical theology, Christian theology, and practical theology. Exegetical scrutinizes the scriptures. Historical theology figures out its history. It does not speculate its origins; it researches to understand and prove its roots. Christian theology scrutinizes Christian beliefs and practices. Practical theology examines religious traditions and how they can be improved. Just like theology, religion has branches, such as Hindu, Christianity, Jainism, and Judaism.
Black American Catholics on the Path to Sainthood
Liturgical Leaders Black American Catholics on the Path to Sainthood There are several Black American Catholics who are in the early stages on the path to sainthood. We spoke briefly about some of these men and women in class, and some of you did a similar assignment last year in Liturgical Planning. This assignment is […]
