THEOLOGY  , literally the

science which deals with God or the gods . The word is Greek (0e6s, God; Xiyos, theory) . But doctrine counted for less in Greek or Roman religion than in Christianity, and forms of worship for more . In the oldest usage BeoX6yoi were those who dealt in myths, like Hesiod and like the supposed Orpheus, the BeoX&yos par excellence . Paul Natorp 1 contends that BeoXoyla in Plato 's Republic refers wholly to the control of myths . He further denies that Aristotle identified his First Philosophy with a " theology," holding the text of the Metaphysics to be out of order and 1 Philosophische Monatshefte (1888), Heft 1 and 2 .