similarities of religion and theology

similarities of religion and theology

Similarities between Religion and Theology

1. Definition and Overview

The English word religion is derived from the Middle English ‘religioun’ which came from the Old French ‘religion’. It is a word of uncertain origins. The most popular explanation states that the word is derived from the Latin ‘relegere’, although this is now disputed. Others claim that it is derived from ‘reeligere’ meaning to ‘re-pick’ or ‘go through again’. This etymology is favoured by Cicero, leading him to state that religion is the pursuit of ‘appropriately scrupulous or careful practices, entailing something more than is normally done’. The etymology of the word is uncertain and the little information that can be gleaned from it does not provide us with a usable definition for the word religion. So it is best to approach the definition of religion in the sense of its use and nature in society.

The importance of the definitions for religion and theology needs to be recognised. The words religion and theology are often conflated or confused. This probably stems, in part, from the fact that many university theology departments are in fact departments of religious studies rather than offering education in the specific discipline of theology. ‘Religion’ has been a difficult term to define. There is, however, a component common to every religion, which best captures the idea of the nature of religion.

2. Shared Beliefs and Practices

There are a number of studies that attempt to define the scope of religion by using the criteria of the cognitive and behavioral characteristics that are associated with religion. Cognitive characteristics include religious beliefs which influence the culture and the way people think: factors motivating people to adhere to a work ethic or to provide assistance for people who are in need may be attributed to religious beliefs on the importance of charity. Cognitive characteristics also include symbolic thought and the use of symbols in religious rituals and practice. Another characteristic is the classification of the world in terms of religious understandings. This type of classification is reflected in the way people of religious faith explain certain events and occurrences as acts of God. The categorization occurs in which an event is seen as God’s punishment or as a test of faith. An appeal to God’s will and purpose for mankind reflects the belief of a causal agent ordering existence according to religious desires.

Despite the inherent conflict between science and religion, contemporary scholars of the sociology of religion have studied many aspects of science and religion in the hope of determining the impact of recent developments in science and technology upon the classical religious institutions of Western civilization. Define the key differences between science and religion and provide a historical.

3. Influence on Society and Culture

From the statement above, we can see that Islam and Hindu cultures differ because the theology from both religions is different. Theology can make changes to the religion or even create new understandings. It can impact the belief itself, and the impact could be on the same religion or on other religions. If theology takes an independent track from the religion, it can lead to the birth of a new religion or new sect caused by the theology. Theology is the result of the intellectual activity of a person or group, and it can influence the intellectual back because theology is the rationalization of faith with a certain method. The result varies from the understanding itself, the changes, and even the birth of new beliefs. Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism have their own theology and their influence in creating the religion and various sects within the religion. Now we can see in Japan, which has its own culture, that Christian theology in Japanese variation has already influenced Christian believers in Japan to create their own sect. Because of the complex influences and changes between theology and religion, many theologians analyze the history of a religion because it provides many experiences and materials to be explored. Sometimes, history preserves the changes between the original religion and the latest understanding. But theology is a phenomenon that cannot be separated from the background of a person or group that creates it. So, theology is always related to the social reality that is reflected from the background and sometimes its relation with politics.

As has been noted above, theology is the attempt to explain religion and remove any contradictions within it. When religion is the foundation and theology follows, it has a relation with other elements. Theology in religions always impacts culture and creates new culture. For example, when Islam and Islamic cultures grow in the Middle East, Persia, and Spain, the Islamic theology of that time creates Arabic philosophy. This means that Islamic theology in that era creates the Islamic culture of philosophy. Islamic culture, which is the result of Islamic theology, differs from Hindu culture in India, which is also the result of Hindu theology.

4. Role of Scripture and Sacred Texts

Now, from a more overtly religious standpoint, scripture largely represents laws or guidelines that the followers of a particular faith should follow in order to live rightly. However, because theologians aren’t always interested in directly advising religious groups, the teaching and study of moral principles derived from sacred texts are what is known as natural theology. This is basically the implementation of theology research but with scripture as the only data gathered. This movement has been somewhat countered by religious groups who say that the study of moral principles can often take theologians away from the actual teachings of sacred texts.

In theology, there is a heavy emphasis on the teachings of the Bible, and therefore, a lot of theological writings can be seen as an explanation or interpretation of what is read in the Bible. As a result, a lot of theology actually depends on the existence of sacred texts and their contents. An example of this is the discipline known as biblical theology, which largely studies the teachings from religious texts.

Sacred texts and scripture hold a very important place within both theology and religion, which builds a rather strong similarity between the two fields. Scripture is defined as sacred writings and is attributed to a supernatural being or beings. For example, the Bible is a very well-known sacred text, which is believed to be inspired by God. The Qur’an is another example, as it is considered to be the word of Allah as relayed to the prophet Muhammad.

5. Interdisciplinary Connections

Between the different fields within the study of religion and that of religion/theology, there is a close correlation that can be seen as a relationship of parts throughout a unified body of knowledge. The primary emphasis of the study of religion is to gather information and ascertain an understanding of different religious traditions and the meaning behind them. This knowledge is then integrated into theology, where the prime aim is to understand and interpret the religious tradition and bring about a better understanding of it. An example of this can be seen within the field of Japanese religious studies and the work of H. Byron Earhart in his work “Religion and Loyalty in the Japanese Warrior Tradition.” The groundwork has already been done with a case study analyzing the different religious traditions in Japan. Therefore, the work of Earhart can be interpreted and understood as an integrative framework, for it brings together an understanding of Japanese religious traditions and offers an explanation of them in terms of the Christian tradition. This would therefore be the framework for religion/theology.

Religion and theology is a field of study that continues to grow in popularity. Students seeking a higher education in theology and religious discipline will specify an area of study called “Interdisciplinary Connection” from the book Religion and Theology. Although understanding “Interdisciplinary Connection” can be difficult, it is best described as a “relationship of parts throughout a unified body of knowledge.” This relationship can occur between different religious traditions, the different fields within the study of religion, or that of religion and other forms of social and cultural practice. This will be looked at in more detail through the comparison between religion/Buddhism and anthropology, and religion/theology and Eastern Asian studies.