Thealogy

Thealogy, is a relatively recent term and describes an emerging field of academic interdisciplinary study whose origin and initial use is open to debate. Often attributed to a neologism coined by Isaac Bonewits in 1974, Patricia 'Iolana traces the early use of the term to 1976 crediting both Bonewits and Valerie Saiving in its initial use. While the definition and scope of thealogy is currently being defined by the key scholars in the field, thealogy is generally understood as a discourse that reflects upon the meaning of Goddess and Her relationship to life forms. Situated in the field of theology and religious studies, it is seen as a complementary and relational field to that of theology. It is a discourse that critically engages the beliefs, wisdom, practices, questions, and values of the Goddess community, both past and present. The term suggests a feminist approach to theism and the context of God and gender within Paganism, Neopaganism, Goddess Spirituality and various nature-based religions.