Theology is the discourse about God, or the science which explains divinity. Theological study is a systematic approach to beliefs. It studies account of their sources and authority, and their relationship with other beliefs and different aspects of a belief. Western thought has traditionally recognized two kinds of theology:

Natural Theology, as accessible to human reason, and Revealed Theology, based on divine revelation. Revelation is the basis of Revealed Theology.

But this sharp distinction is generally less accepted.

Revealed Theology: Theologians argue that all valid theology is 'revealed'. They also stress that nations that live and act in accordance with Divine Law bring prosperity and peace. Non-biblical traditions, e.g. those of Indian origin, also accord extra human authority to certain documentary or oral sources. In Hindu tradition, 'that which is heard directly', by a sage or rishi (an inspired poet or sage, one who sings) is Sruti (Shruti). Hence it is considered a directly revealed scripture, as distinct from smrti (memorized tradition, secondary to direct revelation.

Possibilities have been considered for developing global theology, e.g., through inter-faith dialogue, from a wider perspective. In Vatican an office has been established for the purpose. Within Christianity also there has been a movement to develop ecumenical theology, to promote understanding and in some cases union between Christian churches. Similar efforts have been made in other faiths also. The Quran provides a basis for developing common understanding on the basis of monotheism: 3-64. This is the criterion by which not only Judaism and Christianity, but all other religions are judged. Worship of One God, and foundation of a religious community on the sacred text provide common platform for dialogue and cooperation. It forms the cornerstone of Islamic approach to Judaism and Christianity, and also to similar faiths on the basis of this principle. The unique relationship between Islam and the Abrahamic traditions echoes in the revealed theology. Key concepts and practices of these religions of the Book represent powerful inspiration of inclusivism.

"Islam's relation with other religions, therefore, is neither entirely exclusive nor completely inclusivist. It accepts in principle the fact that some form of cooperation, on certain specific matters, may become a basis for mutual respect, even salvation. On the other hand, it is sufficiently exclusive to make a claim to truth and specificity.

".The reconciliatory, even pluralistic, tone of the Quranic verses reflects the good relations between Islam and its Abrahamic cousins, while the exclusive approach reflects the political conflict with particular religious communities.In each case, relations between Islam and other religions are not entirely determined by theological arguments: social and political factors also apply in determining such relationships." (Abdulkader Tayob, Islam, A Short Introduction, pp. 6-7)

Natural Religion is considered spontaneous and unargued religious response to the world, or religiousness which develops in human experience untaught. As such, it is contrasted with 'positive religions', with specific traditions, or systems claiming authority for their doctrines. In 18th century Europe, natural religion (e.g. in David Hume's Dialogues) denoted beliefs common to mankind, or at least attainable by human reason (e.g. Deism). Natural Theology is now the widely accepted term for this.

Understanding of nature and existence of God, on one hand, and of duty, freedom, etc., of man, on the other is the subject of Natural Theology. It is considered obtainable through rational reflection on world, human thought and experience. It is usually contrasted with revelation, i.e. theological understanding, given by God to man, either through quasi-verbal communication or through events discerned as disclosing God's nature. Particularly since John Locke (1632-1704), some theologians have taken natural theology as the only acceptable foundation of theological understanding. The use of arguments of natural theology to defend reasonableness of religious beliefs, is known as Apologetics.

In such discussions on theology and religion, as we go deeper into dialectics (logical disputation, enquiry into apparent metaphysical contradictions and their understanding, specially in the thought of Kant and Hegel) it would be seen that one goes from scientific interpretation of theology or theological understanding to secular presentations in the garb of natural theology

Natural Theology, in contrast to Revealed Theology, is considered positivism, which denotes that real knowledge is provided only by methods of natural science. The phrase positive philosophy was coined by Auguste Comte in the 19th century. He distinguished three stages in development of human mind. In the first stage (theological), he thought that all phenomena are brought about by immediate action of supernatural beings. In the second (metaphysical) stage, these beings are thought to be replaced by abstract forces. Final (positive) stage is considered to be reached when such metaphysical abstractions are abandoned in favour of an empirical approach to the causes of phenomena. But this historical analysis into three stages is now not considered to be sound. Therefore, other terms e.g., logical positivism, have been coined to identify and account for historical phenomena as done by Lwszek Kolakowski.

Logical Positivism is hostile to metaphysics and traditional theology. It recognizes only two classes of statements as genuine, e.g., those of logic and mathematics. They are considered to be true or false independently of experience. The true ones are reduced by analysis to tautologies. The other class of genuine statements, including those of natural science, is considered to be those which are verifiable by sense experience. Metaphysical or religious assertions about nature of universe, which do not meet criterion of verifiability, are held to be strictly meaningless. It is argued that they may express feelings but do not convey any information. This view is held by some mathematicians, scientists and philosophers, known as 'Vienna circle', founded by Moritz Schlick in 1920s.

But critique of religious affirmations as meaningless has always been questioned. It is also a fact that more and more revealed statements are being proved with advancement of science, development of human understanding and historical and geographical discoveries. A.J.Ayer reformed the criterion of verifiability so that it does not exclude important scientific statements as meaningless. Many, following Karl Popper, think that falsifiability rather than verifiability is a more appropriate criterion for distinguishing scientific statements. Anyway, validation of religious affirmations, will always remain problematic.

Science and Statements of Scripture: It is important to note that sharp divisions between scientific research and Biblical and Quranic statements have taken place because of conflict created between science and religion; originally between science and Christianity, which suppressed scientific thought and persecuted scientists. At the same time there have been many efforts to understand Biblical, and now Quranic statements also, with advancement of science, e.g., Ptolemy's model in 2nd century C.E., and Big Bang Theory in 1951, were accepted by Vatican. Muslims also accept many theories including that of Big Bang, to be closer to the facts mentioned in the Quran. It is also asserted that there is no Quranic statement which has so far been proved wrong. It is the science, which is taking time to explain and also it is human mind that is taking time to understand the facts revealed to man millennia ago, in the Scripture. Till man comes to understand and appreciate the intelligent design, he seems to be seriously seized by evolution; the debate continues to rage. Look at following news items:

"President Bush, announcing that he was in favor of teaching 'intelligent design' in schools, said, 'I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought.'.. Later, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee.made the same point: Teaching both intelligent design and evolution 'doesn't force any particular theory on anyone..'

Whereas others question: "Is intelligent design a legitimate school of scientific thought? Is there something to it, or have these people been taken in by one of the most ingenious hoaxes in the history of science? Wouldn't such a hoax be impossible? No. Here's how it has been done."!! (By Daniel C. Dennett, Show Me the Science, The News, 29.8.2005)

"A US federal judge has ordered a Georgian school district to remove stickers from its science textbooks which declared that 'evolution is a theory, not a fact' which should be 'approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered'.

"The judge, Clarence Cooper of the Federal District Court, ruled that the stickers were contrary to the first amendment's promise to separate church and state, because the stickers 'convey a message of endorsement of religion.' It also went against the state of Georgia constitution which prohibits the use of public money to aid religion.

"Jeffrey Selman, one of five parents who with the American Civil Liberties Union brought the suit against the school board, told the New York Times that he was 'ecstatic... Science is religion-free, and it has to stay that way'.

"He added that the ruling would be a warning to fundamentalists across America who have campaigned for creationist views of the world to be included on the curriculum. The sticker system had been used since 2002 after parents complained about the Darwinian contents of the textbooks. Campaigners first opposed the books, then called for supplementary material to be given to teach creationist views of how the world was created. Finally they settled for the stickers." (Polly Curtis, 'US Schools ordered to remove creationist stickers', January 14, 2005, Dawn 16.1.2005)

It is not the only and straight duel between scientists and theologians. But there are many challengers. It is a complex contest among many branches of human knowledge, in spite of all its known and accepted limitations. Every contender not only claims authority on the point or in the subject but extends its claim or influence in 'territorial wars'. They create and try to extend their own domains for their dogmas, when they form groups, schools, cults etc., even by adding rhetoric and ritual.

Efforts have always been visible, as quoted in above news items, in maintaining disconnect between science and theology, which is more desired than it is by default. According to Bertrand Russell, definite knowledge belongs to science and dogma belongs to theology. The gulf in between, is defined "as no man's land', exposed to attack from science and theology. This no man's land is philosophy."

The very claim that science is progressive, shows that its theories, and even so called laws, constantly remain under experimentation and review. According to Bertrand Russell's own claim one set of knowledge considered definite in one reference in time, may not always remain so in another reference of time. Science is not static. It is advancing. Following reports contradict Berrand Russel's claim that science provides definite knowledge:

U.S. astronomers have discovered a new planet larger than Pluto, in an orbit around the sun (a lump of rock and ice that is larger than Pluto), planetary scientist Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology said in a statement. The unnamed planet would be the 10th in the solar system, although some scientists even dispute over Pluto to be a planet. The discovered object is the farthest-known object in the solar system, Caltech said in a statement. Its location is currently 97 times the distance between the sun and the earth. (Planet or Not, Pluto Now Has Far-Out Rival, The News, 1 August, 2005)

Astronomers have detected a planet outside our solar system with not one, but three suns, a finding that challenges astronomers' theories of planetary formation. The planet, a gas giant slightly larger than Jupiter, orbits the main star of a triple-star system known as HD 188753 in the constellation Cygnus (The Swan).The stellar trio and its planet are about 149 light years from Earth and about as close to each other as our sun is to Saturn, US scientists reported in the journal Nature. A light-year is about 10 trillion km, the distance light travels in a year. If you stood on the planet's surface, you would see three suns in sky: the main yellow star among the trio, the larger of the other two suns would be orange and the smaller would be red. (Planet with three suns challenges astronomers, Reuters, Dawn, July 15, 2005)

Compatibility and Complementarity:

In fact, there are different opinions as to interpretation of statements in the Scripture, in the light of scientific theories and vice versa. Some believe that validity of statements in the Scripture should be confirmed or verified through science, as already discussed above. Others advocate that scientific theories should be in conformity with the Scripture. Yet others try to explain statements in the Scripture in the light of scientific discoveries, usually asserting that the facts now discovered have already been expressed or alluded to in the Scripture. Each of these positions is usually taken to its extreme. Therefore, all these need to take a fresh view of their own stand. Instead of making close ended final claims, on any side, or rejecting one or the other completely, it would be beneficial for both to allow reflection, deliberation and reason to play their part. Science can take clues, if not immediate clear direction in all cases, from the Scripture for observation and experimentation, particularly in the realm of physical sciences. Theologians can also benefit from discussion and deliberation on theories and discoveries for the benefit of right interpretation of the Scripture. In this connection, the Quran offers unlimited opportunities and invites with encouragement for observation: e.g., observation and watching heavenly systems: 67-3 & 4. It repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Tafakkar:: 3-191, Ta'aqqal: 2-164, Tadabbar: 4-82, 47-24

It is important to understand that one theory may not necessarily coincide with one verse or statement in the Quran. In fact one verse may contain many aspects of different scientific theories. Therefore they can not be proved to be congruent, and it should not be ventured to prove their congruence.

Purpose of Science is to uncover patterns and regularities in nature by finding algorithmic compressions of observations. But the raw data of observation rarely exhibit explicit regularities. Instead we find that nature's order is hidden from us, it is written in code (Kalimaat: Words?). What is remarkable is that human beings are able to break this code, and that human mind has necessary intellectual equipment to unlock the secrets of nature. Human abilities, physical and mental, show wide variations. It is amazing that physical, biological, and in fact, all sciences work together. All such research efforts ultimately lead to praise and adoration for the Creator and Sustainer of all these systems! "Alhamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Aalamiin.(All thankful-praises are only for Lord-Sustainer of all creation-worlds.) "

From the history of revelation and science, it would be seen that till we were able to fathom the working of nature, by using scientific method, information to the necessary extent was provided through revelation (revealed theology)