Emily Dickinson Lexicon

THE-OL'O-GY, n. [Fr. theologie; It. and Sp. teologia; Gr. θεολογια; Θεος, God, and λογος, discourse.]

Divinity; the science of God and divine things, or the science which teaches the existence, character and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice. Theology consists of two branches, natural and revealed. Natural theology is the knowledge we have of God from his works, by the light of nature and reason. Revealed theology is that which is to be learned only from revelation. Moral theology, teaches us the divine laws relating to our manners and actions, that is, our mural duties. Speculative theology, teaches or explains the doctrines of religion, as objects of faith. Scholastic theology, is that which proceeds by reasoning, or which derives the knowledge of several divine things from certain established principles of faith. Tillotson. Cyc.