The·ol·o·gy n.; pl. Theologies   The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice; divinity; (as more commonly understood) “the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures, the systematic exhibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life.”
    Many speak of theology as a science of religion [instead of =\“science of God”] because they disbelieve that there is any knowledge of God to be attained.\=   --Prof. R. Flint (Enc. Brit.).
    Theology is ordered knowledge; representing in the region of the intellect what religion represents in the heart and life of man.   --Gladstone.
 Ascetic theology, Natural theology. See Ascetic, Natural.
 Moral theology, that phase of theology which is concerned with moral character and conduct.
 Revealed theology, theology which is to be learned only from revelation.
 Scholastic theology, theology as taught by the scholastics, or as prosecuted after their principles and methods.
 Speculative theology, theology as founded upon, or influenced by, speculation or metaphysical philosophy.
 Systematic theology, that branch of theology of which the aim is to reduce all revealed truth to a series of statements that together shall constitute an organized whole. --E. G. Robinson (Johnson's Cyc.).

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 As·cet·ic, n. In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.
    I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters in deserts.   --Norris.
 Ascetic theology, the science which treats of the practice of the theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection.  --Am. Cyc.
    Be systematically ascetic . . . do . . . something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it. --William James.

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