1) A doctrine or a
corpus of doctrines relating to matters such as morality and faith, set forth in an authoritative manner by a church.
2) An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true. See Synonyms at doctrine.
3) A principle or belief or a group of them.
Usage: --
Dogma,
Tenet. A
tenet is that which is maintained as true with great firmness; as, the tenets of our holy religion. A
dogma is that which is laid down with authority as
indubitably true, especially a religious doctrine; as, the
dogmas of the church. A tenet rests on its own intrinsic merits or demerits; a dogma rests on authority regarded as competent to decide and determine. Dogma has in our language acquired, to some extent, a repulsive sense, from its carrying with it the idea of undue authority or assumption. This is more fully the case with its derivatives dogmatical and
dogmatism.
The
dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the
stormy present” (
Abraham Lincoln)
