antitheology
|an-ti-the-ol-o-gy|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈθi.ə.lə.dʒi/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪˈθi.ə.lə.dʒi/
against theology
Etymology
'antitheology' originates from Greek elements: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' and 'theology' (Greek 'theologia') meaning 'discourse about God'.
'antitheology' developed from Late Latin/Medieval Latin formations built with 'anti-' + 'theologia' and entered modern English usage in contexts discussing opposition to or critique of theology, especially from the 18th–20th centuries onward.
Initially formed simply to denote opposition to theological doctrine ('against theology'), over time it has also come to describe nuanced academic critiques or deconstructive approaches to theological language rather than only outright denial.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to or rejection of theology or theological doctrines; a stance or system that argues against theological claims (often aligned with antitheism).
His early writings were examples of antitheology, arguing that traditional theological claims could not be sustained.
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Noun 2
in academic or philosophical contexts, a critical or deconstructive approach to theology that seeks to interrogate, unsettle, or reinterpret theological language and claims (not necessarily simple denial of God).
Contemporary philosophers have developed forms of antitheology that focus on exposing contradictions within doctrinal language.
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Last updated: 2025/09/11 08:18