# theology

/θiˈɑɫədʒi/ (US) · /θɪˈɒlədʒi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/theology
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the study of religion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the study of God and religious beliefs.

For teachers: the academic and philosophical study of the nature of the divine and the truth of religious belief.

- She decided to study theology at university because she was interested in how different cultures view God.
- The professor of systematic theology argued that modern secularism has roots in medieval scholastic debates.

Usage: Often used without an article when referring to the academic field.

### 2. a system of belief

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a specific set of religious ideas or theories.

For teachers: a particular system, theory, or formulation of religious belief.

- The book explores the theology of the early Christian church.
- Liberation theology emerged as a powerful movement in Latin America, focusing on social justice and the plight of the poor.

### 3. minor technical details

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Technical

small, complicated details that most people do not care about.

For teachers: subjective or overly technical marginal details, often regarding software architecture or internal logic.

- The programmers spent hours arguing over the theology of the new database design.
- The senior engineer dismissed the debate over naming conventions as mere theology that didn't affect the system's performance.

Teaching tip: This is a metaphorical use in the tech industry to describe arguments over 'correct' ways of doing things that have little practical impact.

## Examples

- She decided to study theology to understand her faith better.
- The university offers a degree in theology that covers both ancient scriptures and modern religious philosophy.
- Scholars of medieval theology often debate how early philosophical frameworks influenced the development of modern religious doctrine across different cultures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.