Dogma

Dogma, in its broadest sense, is any belief held unquestioningly and with undefended certainty. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism,[1] or Islam, as well as the positions of a philosopher or of a philosophical school, such as Stoicism.

It may also be found in political belief systems such as fascism, progressivism, liberalism, and conservatism.[2][3]

In the pejorative 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, or dogmatism, and is often used to refer to matters related to religion. However, it is not limited to theistic attitudes alone and is often used with respect to political or philosophical dogmas.

  1. ^ "Dogma". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Yes, liberal democracy is struggling, and the progressive left isn't helping". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Challenging the Dogmas of Right and Left". The Atlantic. 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  4. ^ "dogma". Merriam-Webster.com. Encyclopædia Britannica Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 2022-07-29.
  5. ^ "Dogma". dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.