Natural theology

Natural theology (or natural religion) is theology based on reason and ordinary experience. Thus it is distinguished from revealed theology (or revealed religion) which is based on scripture and religious experiences of various kinds.

William Paley was the most famous proponent of this approach in which he described the teleological argument for God. Contemporary criticisms of ley's work are found in David Hume's posthumous Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.

Natural theology was originally part of theology, and theologians still study it; but most of its content also forms part of the philosophy of religion.