Theology and Religion

Theology adds to the understanding of religion, but it is not necessary to understand it. Theology provides the followers with the underlying principles embedded within their chosen lifeway. They would understand the purposes of their rituals and other customs. For example, a person with a background in theology would see God not only as a supreme being who created the universe, but also the force that motivates the people to abide by his principles.

Moreover, theologists can make a connection between religion and the larger society. With such knowledge, they would be able to see the direct and indirect effects of religion. For instance, people familiar with theology could say that certain religions dissuade its followers from rebelling in the political arena because there religion endorses its followers to conform to the status quo. In short, they would probably view religion as an institution connected to the larger society.

Although theology broadens one's perspective, I don't think that an understanding of theology is required to understand religion. I'm sure that thousands of people worldwide can comprehend and practice their own religions without knowing any of the concepts and terminology of theology. Theology is knowledge whereas religion is knowledge blended with faith in beliefs that explain one's existance. It's similar to the position of any human within a culture. They do not need to understand anthropology to understand that they have traditions, customs, and beliefs that serve specific purposes. Religion also evokes strong feelings that motivate people to continue devoting their lives to it. Thus, comprehension of religion does not depend on understanding theology.