what is theology?

i don't have a nice clean answer to the question "what is theology?". i'm sure that i will have one very shortly as i fire up my seminary studies here at princeton seminary.

coming in, my basic definition is that a person's theology is the way a person views God and all the different relational aspects of that God to that person, others and the world. most of my life, i shunned theology because i viewed it as an intellectual exercise for people that had way too much free time. in recent years, however, i have seen how a person's theology truly impacts his/her everyday life.

what does a person believe about God and his response to the wrong decisions we make in life? does God forgive and forget? does forgive and remember later? does God truly give us a fresh start or does his discipline keep us in the same place for a time period until we learn? does God's kindness truly lead to repentance (Rom 2:4)? does godly sorrow leave no regret (II Cor 7:10)? do we doubt the blood of Jesus if feel like we are not forgiven? are we in Christ if we continue to sin over and over?

these are questions i have heard from friends over the past 10 years... good questions... do u have the same ones?

no matter what, i agree with one of my professors when she states that theology is not merely an intellectual exercise. we cannot separate the intellect from the soul as we inquire after God.