v. [In sense 1, ad. med.L. theologizāre (Albertus Magnus, c. 1250; also in Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Wyclif, etc.), f. theologia THEOLOGY: see -IZE. So F. théologiser (Godef., Compl.). But the trans. senses may have been formed later directly from theology.]
1. intr. To play the theologian; to discourse or reason theologically; to speculate in theology.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Theologize, to preach or play the Divine.
1662. H. More, Philos. Writ., Pref. Gen. (1712), 6. My Design, which is not to Theologize in Philosophy.
1721. Earl Nottingham, Answ. to Whiston, 57. As we Christians have been taught to Theologize of Him.
1826. G. S. Faber, Diffic. Romanism (1853), 158. Justin … theologises in manner following.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ, Pref. (1878), 4. When they do theologise … on the question whether the existing human race owes its being to law or to grace.
2. trans. To render theological; to conform to theology; to treat theologically.
1649. V. Weigelius (title), Astrologie Theologized: wherein is set forth what Astrologie, and the light of Nature is.
1873. H. Rogers, Orig. Bible, vii. (1875), 295. Voltaire said that Pascal had illustrated … his genius … by theologising two things that seemed not made for theology—wit and pleasantry.
† 3. To attribute divinity to; to treat as of divine or spiritual nature. Also intr. or absol. Obs.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. i. § 33. 40. The same persons did … both Atomize in their Physiology, taking away all Substantial Forms…, and also Theologize or Incorporealize, asserting Souls to be a Substance really distinct from Matter and Immortal. Ibid., iv. § 17. 298. In which Orphick Fables, not only the Things of Nature, and Parts of the World were all Theologized, but also all manner of Humane Passions … attributed to the Gods.
Hence Theologizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; also Theologizer, one who theologizes, a theologer.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., iv. (1686), 93. The ancient Ægyptian *Theologizers … look’d upon the Sun and Moon … as the chief Gods.
1693. J. Edwards, Author. O. & N. Test., 92. Epicharmus, Thales, Plato, and all the Greek theologizers.
1857–8. Sears, Athan., 8. Theologizers of the school we describe.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. III. 136. Origen’s allegoric mode of *Theologising.
1833. J. H. Newman, Arians, II. iv. (1876), 190. The introduction of a subtle and irreverent question, whenever the theologizing Sophists should choose to raise it.
1881. G. A. Simcox, in Academy, 7 May, 330. An instructive contrast to much fashionable theologising.
