According to Merriam-Webster (11th Collegiate Edition Dictionary),
Theology:
Function:noun
Etymology:Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy
Date:14th century
1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world
2 a : a theological theory or system *Thomist theology* *a theology of atonement* b : a distinctive body of theological opinion *Catholic theology*
3 : a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary
Theosophy:
Function:noun
Etymology:Medieval Latin theosophia, from Late Greek, from Greek the- + sophia wisdom — more at -SOPHY
Date:1650
1 : teaching about God and the world based on mystical insight
2 often capitalized : the teachings of a modern movement originating in the United States in 1875 and following chiefly Buddhist and Brahmanic theories especially of pantheistic evolution and reincarnation
Pantheism:
Function:noun
Etymology:French panth*isme, from panth*iste pantheist, from English pantheist, from pan- + Greek theos god
Date:1732
1 : a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe
2 : the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently; also : toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire)
Polytheism:
Function:noun
Etymology:French polytheisme, from Late Greek polytheos polytheistic, from Greek, of many gods, from poly- + theos god
Date:1613
: belief in or worship of more than one god
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The Temple's Endnote:
Just something for all to ponder...and dig much deeper into the etymology of all words well beyond one's dictionary, especially concerning the historical dates of so-called origin of any word.
