This paper reflects mostly the author's experience with Christian theology. Occasionally other religions will be mentioned, usually as quotes or paraphrases from Holmes Rolston. Many books have been written on theology in general and on science and theology in particular. This paper is not a replacement for reading those sources. It has been written to serve as an introduction to some of those ideas.
Religions develop over long period of time within a culture.
Religion is an attempt to find meaning in the world, and to explain humanity's place in it and relationship to it and to any posited divine entity or entities. The two fields exist for different reasons, and are trying to answer different questions. However, both make truth claims about the world, and as science explains more and more about how the world works, it becomes difficult to allow the truth claims of religion to stand without questioning their validity. The study of a religion from within that religion is theology. Tradition refers to the teachings and beliefs of the community developed over time, and these include the common creeds and doctrines of the church.