Theology
“Theology” 是对某一宗教传统中神的本性、启示、伦理与崇拜等进行系统反思的学科或知识体系。可在大学院系、神学院出现,也可泛指某种思想体系的神学侧面(如 liberation theology)。
- “She majored in philosophy and minored in theology.” (她主修哲学,辅修神学。)
- “The document summarizes medieval theology on free will.” (该文献概述了中世纪神学对自由意志的论述。)
- “Their ethics debate drew on theology as well as law.” (他们的伦理辩论既援引神学也援引法律。)
源自希腊语 “theologia”(关于神的言说),由 “theos”(神)与 “logia”/“logos”(言说、理性研究)构成。
词根 “theo-”(神)加名词后缀 “-logy”(学问、研究),同类词如 biology, geology。
亚伯拉罕诸宗与东方宗教各有神学传统;当代公共讨论里该词既指学术科目,也牵涉信仰认同。
- 固定搭配: “systematic theology” (系统神学), “moral theology” (道德神学)
Theo 让人想到神(theism),-logy 是学问——研究神的学问。
“In seminary he discovered that theology was less about memorizing answers and more about wrestling with questions.” (在神学院他发现,神学与其说是背答案,不如说是在与问题角力。)