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Studying the history of theology involves tracing the origins and changes of major religions and their sacred texts, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The complexity of human views on God and humanity requires an understanding of history, culture, and theology. Theology is constantly evolving and influenced by changes in society, such as advances in science and technology and the mixing of cultures.
Studying the history of theology involves tracing the origins of the world’s major religions, as well as examining their sacred texts and how their belief systems have changed and diversified over time. This must include Judaism; although it is one of the smallest religions, it is also considered to be the oldest organized religion in the world, dating back to 2085 BC. Beliefs centered on the four main religions by number of adherents should also be studied, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, whose followers together represent 80% of the total world population in 2011.
Learning about the history of theology can be a very complex and research-intensive practice, due to the fact that human views on the nature of God and humanity’s relationship to the universe can be very disparate. It is estimated that there are around 20 major religious groups in the world as of 2011 that have at least one million members each, but this number diverges widely when individual sects are examined and smaller religions are included. Within Christianity alone, it is estimated that there are over 34,000 groups with distinct beliefs and values.
The ancient nature of most major religions also requires that an education in theology incorporate much of the general study of history in the periods and cultures from which religions arose. Hinduism dates back to 1500 BC on the Indian subcontinent, and Islam has come to dominance in the Middle and Near East, as well as large portions of North Africa since its founding by Mohammed in 610 AD. Buddhism and Taoism trace back to closely related origins in history, with Gautama Buddha creating the foundation for Buddhist beliefs in 560 BC and Lao Tzu’s Taoism teachings occurring around 550 BC. Both religions have wide prevalence in China, Japan and other Asian nations, and their diverse cultures have influenced them over the last 2,500 years.
Various theological movements have had periods in which large offshoots of the primary religious group occurred. These tend to be turning points in history that must be understood in proper context when learning about the history of theology as well. Examples of this include Martin Luther’s initiation of the Protestant Reformation in 1517 AD, which led to the formation of hundreds of sects of Christianity, and the Sikh rebellion against Hindu polytheism in the 15th century.
Many religions also have their origins in ancient folklore and mythology, and these elements of human society have a strong and sometimes hidden or subtle influence on contemporary religious beliefs. A good example of a widespread religion that goes back to ancient folklore is the centralized Shinto belief system in Japan. Shinto spans a spectrum from moral values to behavior that governs everything, including romance and honoring veterans through war memorials, to ritualistic agricultural practices. Theology courses that include understanding Shinto beliefs in the history of theology must therefore take into account transformational changes in Japanese culture, such as when it moved from being an isolated nation to having relations with the West in the mid-19th century.
The history of theology is in constant motion and often profoundly affected and defined by peripheral changes in human society. Advances in science and technology, medicine and the discovery of new lands and the mixing of cultures have affected the history of theology over time. As mankind gained astronomical knowledge, or as the western and eastern cultures of Greece and Persia collided, or Mexico colonized by the Portuguese, the history of theology was transformed and rewritten.
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