What is Theology?

David Wayne at JollyBlogger is serializing a paper he wrote on theology and blogging. I have found it interesting his definition of theology. Theology as stance, not mere study. Here is a quote:

. . . an overemphasis on academics and studies can keep theology locked up in the classroom, never letting it out into the highways and fields where it belongs. The old Puritan William Ames got closer to this more well- rounded definition of theology when he defined it as:

"The doctrine or teaching of living to God."

The academic aspect is present in this definition, but the emphasis is that theology has a broader application to all of life.

In Richard Pratt's Intro to Theology class . . ., he defines theology as not merely study, but as "convictional life stance." Such an approach emphasizes that all of life applies to theology and theology applies to all of life. With that, there is a reciprocal relationship between life and study.

I am investigating starting a men's group to study Theology and find JollyBlogger's post very helpful in formulating what I desire for the group.