dogma

[dawg-muh, dog-] /ˈdɔg mə, ˈdɒg-/
noun, plural dogmas or (Rare) dogmata
[dawg-muh-tuh] /ˈdɔg mə tə/ (Show IPA)
1.
an official system of principles or tenets concerning faith, morals, behavior, etc., as of a church.
Synonyms: doctrine, teachings, set of beliefs, philosophy.
2.
a specific tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down, as by a church: the dogma of the Assumption;
the recently defined dogma of papal infallibility.
Synonyms: tenet, canon, law.
3.
prescribed doctrine proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular group:
the difficulty of resisting political dogma.
4.
a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle:
the classic dogma of objectivity in scientific observation.
Synonyms: conviction, certainty.
Origin
1590-1600; < Latin < Greek, equivalent to dok(eîn) to seem, think, seem good + -ma noun suffix
Word story
At the turn of the 17th century, dogma entered English from the Latin term meaning “philosophical tenet.” The Greek word from which it is borrowed means “that which one thinks is true,” and comes ultimately from the Greek dokein which means “to seem good” or “think.”
The origin of the word dogma acts as a reminder to English speakers that now-established principals and doctrines were once simply thoughts and opinions of ordinary people that gained popularity and eventually found their way into the universal consciousness of society. 20th century American academic and aphorist Mason Cooley concisely observed that “Under attack, sentiments harden into dogma,” suggesting that dogma is spawned as a defensive act. This idea implies that for every dogma that exists, there is a counter dogma. With so many “truths” out there, there is sure to be a dogma to conveniently fit every set of beliefs.
Popular references
—Dogma: A film written and directed by Kevin Smith, released in 1999.
—Dogma 95: A movement in cinema started by Danish director Lars von Trier in 1995, which established filmmaking constraints such as no use of special effects.
Related Quotations
“Let it be understood once for all that Catholic dogma does not fix a limit to the operations of reason in dealing with divine truth.“
—A. N. Littlejohn, “Catholic Dogma: Its Nature and Obligations“ Catholic Dogma (1892)
“Since the time of Moses Mendelssohn (1728–1786), the chief Jewish dogma has been that Judaism has no dogmas.“
—Israel Abrahams, Judaism (1907)
“To me there was no question so important as the emancipation of women from the dogmas of the past, political, religious, and social.“
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eighty years and more: Reminiscences 1815-1897 (1898)
“Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.“
—Steve Jobs, “Commencement Address at Stanford University“ American Rhetoric (delivered June 12, 2005)
Examples from the web for dogma
  • But rather than relying on reason and evidence to support them, faith relies on revelation, dogma and authority.
  • As a dogma it is purely subjective.
  • He can accept nothing as fact that tells against his dogma.
  • Attempts to impose dogmatic restrictions on science were not entirely absent even in this "golden age" of Soviet science.
  • We trust no man, no elite, no dogma.
  • Once having doubted, dogma will no longer suffice.
  • It became nutritional dogma in some circles that sugar was healthy, and high-fructose corn syrup was not.
  • Fundamental reform was also vital and “no barriers, no dogma, no vested interests” should stand in the way.
  • Deng's words meant Maoist dogma was out and pragmatism was in.
  • dogma, rigidly prescribed by tradition, stiffens into formalism.
British Dictionary definitions for dogma

dogma

/ˈdɒɡmə/
noun (pl) -mas, -mata (-mətə)
1.
a religious doctrine or system of doctrines proclaimed by ecclesiastical authority as true
2.
a belief, principle, or doctrine or a code of beliefs, principles, or doctrines: Marxist dogma
Word Origin
C17: via Latin from Greek: opinion, belief, from dokein to seem good
Word Origin and History for dogma
n.

c.1600 (in plural dogmata), from Latin dogma "philosophical tenet," from Greek dogma (genitive dogmatos) "opinion, tenet," literally "that which one thinks is true," from dokein "to seem good, think" (see decent). Treated in 17c.-18c. as a Greek word in English.

dogma in Culture

dogma definition


A teaching or set of teachings laid down by a religious group, usually as part of the essential beliefs of the group.

Note: The term dogma is often applied to statements put forward by someone who thinks, inappropriately, that they should be accepted without proof.