In thepejorative sense, dogma refers to enforced decisions, such as those of aggressive political interests or authorities.[4][5] More generally, it is applied to some strong belief that its adherents are not willing to discuss rationally. This attitude is named as a dogmatic one, ordogmatism, and is often used to refer to matters related to religion, though this pejorative sense strays far from the formal sense in which it is applied to religious belief. The pejorative sense is not limited to theistic attitudes alone and is often used with respect to political or philosophical dogmas.
InPyrrhonism, "dogma" refers to assent to a proposition about a non-evident matter.[6] The main principle of Pyrrhonism is expressed by the wordacatalepsia, which connotes the ability to withhold assent from doctrines regarding the truth ofthings in their own nature; against every statement its contradiction may be advanced with equal justification. Consequently, Pyrrhonists withhold assent with regard to non-evident propositions, i.e., dogmas.[7] Pyrrhonists argue that dogmatists, such as theStoics,Epicureans, andPeripatetics, have failed to demonstrate that their doctrines regarding non-evident matters are true.
In Christianity, adogma is a belief communicated by divine revelation and defined by the Church,[8] The organization's formal religious positions may be taught to new members or simply communicated to those who choose to become members. It is rare for agreement with an organization's formal positions to be a requirement for attendance, though membership may be required for some church activities.[8]
In the narrower sense of the church's official interpretation of divine revelation,[9] theologians distinguish between defined and non-defined dogmas, the former being those set out by authoritative bodies such as theRoman Curia for theCatholic Church, the latter being those which are universally held but have not been officially defined, the nature of Christ as universal redeemer being an example.[10] The term originated inlate ancient Greek philosophy legal usage, in which it meant a decree or command, and came to be used in the same sense in early Christian theology.[11]Protestants to differing degrees are less formal about doctrine, and often rely on denomination-specific beliefs, but seldom refer to these beliefs as dogmata. The first[citation needed] unofficial institution of dogma in the Christian church was bySaint Irenaeus in hisDemonstration of Apostolic Teaching, which provides a 'manual of essentials' constituting the 'body of truth'.
The decisions of fourteen later councils that Catholics hold as dogmatic and a small number of decrees promulgated bypopes exercisingpapal infallibility (for examples, seeImmaculate Conception andAssumption of Mary) are considered as being a part of the Catholic Church's sacred body of dogma.
In the Jewish commentary tradition,dogma is a principle by which theRabbanim can try the proofs of faith about the existence of God and truth;[12]dogma is what is necessarily true for rational thinking.[13] In JewishKabbalah, adogma is anarchetype of thePardes orTorah Nistar, the secrets of Bible. In the relation between "logical thinking" and "rational Kabbalah" the "Partzuf" is the means to identify "dogma".[clarification needed]
View or position (Sanskrit:दृष्टि,romanized: dṛṣṭi;Pali:diṭṭhi) is a central idea inBuddhism that corresponds with the Western notion of dogma.[14] In Buddhist thought, a view is not a simple, abstract collection of propositions, but a charged interpretation of experience which intensely shapes and affects thought, sensation, and action.[15] Having the proper mental attitude toward views is therefore considered an integral part of the Buddhist path, as sometimes correct views need to be put into practice and incorrect views abandoned, while at other times all views are seen as obstacles to enlightenment.[16]
In the context of Islam, dogma is best translated as عقيدة (ʿAqīda).
ʿAqīda refers to the core tenets of Islamic belief, such as faith in Allah, the prophets, the afterlife, and other essential doctrines. It is a fundamental aspect of Islamic theology, and different Islamic schools (e.g., Ashʿarī, Māturīdī, and Salafī) have varying interpretations of ʿAqīda while agreeing on its foundational principles.
