Religion is defined as "organized movements and communities dedicated to singular traditions of beliefs, rituals, and laws" (ECT pp. 1). The commonly used word "religion" really refers to faith, which itself has a meaning. Faith can be described as a set of beliefs (as well as a course of life) that is derived from divine revelation. Theology is in essence "faith seeking understanding" or "the effort to better comprehend faith in its relational, contextual and lived out dimensions" (ECT pp. 1). Theology and faith are undoubtedly different, yet they are quite complimentary. One who has accepted the gift that is Catholic faith can become stronger in it by better understanding the content of faith, through Catholic theology. Conversely, one who studies Catholic theology (and thus the content of Catholic faith) can become open to accepting more completely the gift of faith. This relationship illustrates that "to really "do" theology requires faith which mediates an awareness of God" (TIM pp. 12). .
Theology, the "science of faith" (Rahner), comes in four flavors: Historical theology, Systematic theology, Moral theology, and Pastoral theology. (TIM pp. 14-15) Historical theology is the branch of theology which studies the development of the Church's faith through different periods of history. It seeks to bring the contemporary church closer into synchronization with the early church. In studying the Church through history, it provides a reference from which theologians are able to determine the genuineness of development in an aspect of faith. Historical theology is not an example of the study of religion, because it seeks historical truths which may differ from the accepted modern beliefs. The student author understands "religion" to refer to something in which one believes. This is not technically accurate, as religion is more that just a belief; it is a dedication to a belief.
