Religious theory books deals with the various theories and beliefs concerning religion and the evolution of man. Religious theory studies the three main belief systems about origins of the Earth's life forms which include:
• diverse and conflicting beliefs promoted by various religions
• the theory of evolution
• theistic evolution of the blending of scientific and religious beliefs and Intelligent Design
Theory books on religion cover chapters on evolution, creation science and intelligent design. It should be mentioned that there are not only three conflicting belief systems concerning the origin and evolution of plants and animals. There are numerous such theories which can be grouped into three categories.
Texts on religious theory often extend beyond the study of the origins and evolution of living beings. They discuss many related topics:
- Cosmology : Study of the origins and development of the universe. Special importance is given to the big bang model describing the initial explosion that occurred at the origin of the universe
- Geology: Study of the physical features of Earth like the tectonic plates, volcanoes, mountain formation, etc
- Abiogenesis: Study of the origin of life and the transition from non-living matter to living matter
- Acarology: Study of ticks and mites
- Virology: Study of viruses
Topics covered in different religious theory books may differ to some extent but the basic sections are covered in most of the books. These are:
- introduction on religious theory
- beliefs about the origin of the species: 3 main world views and many unique belief systems
- theory of evolution
- creation science
- different religions & faith groups
- philosophies behind evolution and creation science beliefs
- intelligent design
List of religious theory books:
- Theology, Political Theory, and Pluralism: Beyond Tolerance and Difference by Kristen Deede Johnson
- Introducing Theologies of Religions by Paul F. Knitter
- The Return of the Primitive: A New Sociological Theory of Religion by Richard K. Fenn
- Opting for the Margins: Postmodernity and Liberation in Christian Theology by Jeorg Rieger
- Political Theologies: Public Religions in a Post-Secular World by Hent de Vries and Lawrence E. Sullivan
- Compass Psychotheology: Where Psychology & Theology Really Meet by Dr. Dan Montgomery and Kate Montgomery
- Divine Revelation and Human Learning: A Christian Theory of Knowledge by David Heywood
- Faith, Religion & Theology: A Contemporary Introduction by Brennan Hill, Paul F. Knitter, and William Madges
- An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical & Contemporary Perspectives by Veli-Matti Karkkainen
- Trinity and Religious Pluralism: The Doctrine of the Trinity in Christian Theology of Religions by Veli-Matti Karkkainen
- Materialising Religion: Expression, Performance And Ritual by Elisabeth Arweck and William Keenan
- Religion and Rational Theology by Immanuel Kant, Allen W. Wood, and George di Giovanni
- Cinéma Divinité: Religion, Theology And The Bible In Film by Eric S. Christianson, Peter Francis, and William R. Telford
- Varieties of African American Religious Experience by Anthony B. Pinn
- Feminist Theologies: Legacy and Prospect by Rosemary Radford
- The Restoration of Israel: Christian Zionism in Religion, Literature, and Politics by Gerhard Falk
- The Neighbor: Three Inquiries in Political Theology by Slavoj Zizek, Eric L. Santner, and Kenneth Reinhard
- Horizons in Feminist Theology: Identity, Tradition, and Norms by Conference on Feminist Theology and the Role of Theory Rebecca S. Chopp, and Sheila Greeve Davaney
- The Way To Happiness: A Theory Of Religion by Don Cupitt
- Religion, Theology and the Human Sciences by Richard H. Roberts
- God in Context: A Survey of Contextual Theology by Sigurd Bergmann
- Nature, Reality, and the Sacred: The Nexus of Science and Religion by Langdon Gilkey
Thus the religious theory books present the complex theory of religion in a simple manner.
