Dogma 44941 224430409 2008-07-08T20:28:27Z Mladifilozof 589644 /* External links */ {{wikt|Dogma}} {{dablink|For [[Dogma (Roman Catholic)]] and other senses of this word, see [[Dogma (disambiguation)]].}} '''Dogma''' (the plural is either '''''dogmata''''' or '''''dogmas''''', [[Greek language|Greek]] ''{{Polytonic|δόγμα}}'', plural ''{{Polytonic|δόγματα}}'') is the established [[belief]] or [[doctrine]] held by a [[religion]], [[ideology]] or any kind of [[organization]], thought to be [[authority|authoritative]] and not to be disputed, doubted or [[heresy|diverged from]]. While in the context of religion the term is largely descriptive, outside of religion its current usage tends to carry a pejorative connotation—referring to concepts as being "established" only according to a particular point of view, and thus one of doubtful foundation. This pejorative connotation is even stronger with the term ''dogmatic'', used to describe a person of rigid beliefs who is not open to rational argument. {{Refimprove|date=December 2007}} == Dogma in religion == Religious dogmata, when properly conceived, reach back to proofs other than themselves, and ultimately to [[faith]]. Perhaps the pinnacle of organized exposition of theological dogma is the [[Summa Theologica]] by [[Thomas Aquinas]], who proposed this relationship between faith and objection: "If our opponent believes nothing of divine [[revelation]], there is no longer any means of proving the articles of faith by reasoning, but only of answering his objections—if he has any—against faith" ([http://newadvent.org/summa/100108.htm I 1 8]). Dogmata are found in many religions such as [[Christianity]], and [[Judaism]], where they are considered core principles that must be upheld by all followers of that religion. As a fundamental element of religion, the term "dogma" is assigned to those theological tenets which are considered to be well demonstrated, such that their proposed disputation or revision effectively means that a person no longer accepts the given religion as his or her own, or has entered into a period of personal doubt. Dogma is distinguished from theological opinion regarding those things considered less well-known. Dogmata may be clarified and elaborated but not contradicted in novel teachings (e.g., [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal%201.8-9;&version=31; Galatians 1:8-9]). Rejection of dogma is considered [[heresy]] in certain religions, and may lead to expulsion from the religious group. For most of [[Eastern Christianity]], the dogmata are contained in the [[Nicene Creed]] and the canons of two, three, or seven [[ecumenical council]]s (depending on whether one is [[Nestorian]], [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]], or [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]]). These tenets are summarized by [[St. John of Damascus]] in his ''Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith'', which is the third book of his main work, titled ''The Fount of Knowledge''. In this book he takes a dual approach in explaining each article of the Eastern Orthodox faith: one for Christians, where he uses quotes from the [[Bible]] and, occasionally, from works of other [[Church Fathers|Fathers of the Church]], and the second, directed both at non-Christians (but who, nevertheless, hold some sort of religious belief) and at [[atheist]]s, where he attempts to employ [[term logic|Aristotelian logic]] and [[dialectics]], especially ''[[reductio ad absurdum]]''. Catholics also hold as dogma the decisions of fourteen later councils and two decrees promulgated by [[pope]]s exercising [[papal infallibility]] (see [[immaculate conception]] and [[Assumption of Mary]]). [[Protestantism|Protestants]] to differing degrees affirm portions of these dogmata, and often rely on denomination-specific 'Statements of Faith' which summarize their chosen dogmata (see, e.g., [[Eucharist]]). In [[Islam]], the dogmatic principles are contained in the [[aqidah]]. However, the dogmatic principles are built after examining God's signs, and truths. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}. Within many Christian denominations, dogma is instead referred to as "[[doctrine]]". ==See also== *[[Age of Enlightenment]] *[[Conversational intolerance]] *[[Dogmatic definition]] *[[skepticism]] ==External links== * {{1913CE|Dogma}} *[http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=1378&version=kjv Dogma] - [[James Strong (theologian)|Strong's]] N.T. 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