Dogma
(→Non-dogmatic philosophies: make less dogmatic) |
|||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
*'''[[Science]]''' -- which was once called the "philosophy of nature" -- has no dogma. In fact, it is the antithesis of dogma. Rather than relying on ancient texts and a rigid world view controlled by a few elders, scientists are forever examining, testing, altering, expanding and discarding scientific theories in pursuit of the truth. This confounds most dogmatists, who find comfort in relying on their old, unchanging belief systems. They find the endless search for new information disconcerting and are incapable of accepting the possibilities that portions of one's philosophy can change substantially during one's lifetime without resulting in some form of personal cataclysm. | *'''[[Science]]''' -- which was once called the "philosophy of nature" -- has no dogma. In fact, it is the antithesis of dogma. Rather than relying on ancient texts and a rigid world view controlled by a few elders, scientists are forever examining, testing, altering, expanding and discarding scientific theories in pursuit of the truth. This confounds most dogmatists, who find comfort in relying on their old, unchanging belief systems. They find the endless search for new information disconcerting and are incapable of accepting the possibilities that portions of one's philosophy can change substantially during one's lifetime without resulting in some form of personal cataclysm. | ||
| − | *'''[[Atheism]]''' and '''[[Agnosticism]]''' have no | + | *'''[[Atheism]]''' and '''[[Agnosticism]]''' have no position beyond "there is no evidence for the existence of god" and "I don't know nor do I care if there is a god." While there are many atheist and agnostic philosophers, there is no central authoritative council of non-believers that decides what other non-believers must not believe in to be considered good, upstanding, faithful non-believers. Furthermore, beyond the hope that the destruction of organized religion would bring about peace and harmony, there is no hope/fear structure in non-belief. |
*'''[[Humanism]]''' is the belief that humans should work together and take care of each other, rather than try to exploit each other for personal enrichment. | *'''[[Humanism]]''' is the belief that humans should work together and take care of each other, rather than try to exploit each other for personal enrichment. | ||
Revision as of 19:55, 8 March 2010
'Dogma refers to an inerrant, entrenched, (supposedly) unchangeable belief. They are held to by fundamentalist groups and cults as well as many other organizations, viz., religions and some secular groups built on a common philosophy or goal, such as extremist political parties.
Contents |
How dogma is used
Dogma includes promises of hope for a better day for the faithful, combined with fear of loss and destruction for those who stray from its tenets. It is the framework by which authoritarian leaders are able to coerce the plebeian members of their organization into following the rules. Some dogmatic organization not only use ancient texts (scriptures), but also have official interpretations of the ancient texts (catechisms) and official prayer books (because the elders know what God wants to hear you say to Him).
Examples of dogmatic coercion
"God loves you. It is through unquestioning, unwavering service to Him that you attain freedom. And if you don't do everything He tells you to do, He will cast you into a pit of all-consuming flame where you will suffer for all of eternity. And He will do this to you because He loves you. If you love God, you must live your life the way we say He wants you to. And don't believe the things that the heretics down the street believe. They may say that they interpret only a few passages of God's Word differently, but they are all going to Hell because they don't believe in God the way we do. Trust us. We love you. And don't forget to tithe."
"Every time that the ancient Hebrews turned away from God and became librul, God sent a nation of heathens to conquer Israel. Therefore, if we continue to allow heathens and heretics to 'worship' their so-called gods, if we let ho-mo-sek-shules marry, and if we continue to elect the wrong kind of people to the highest office in the land, should we be surprised if someday the godless Canadians and Mexicans swarm in and conquer us? Donate today, and show God how much you love Him.
"You are almost clear of engrams. All we need is the rest of your life savings plus ten percent to free you of all the thetans that diminish your life. Don't ask too many questions or the engrams will begin to reassert themselves. You must do this if you want to be free. Trust us. We love you."
"If we eliminate all taxes, our society will finally be free. Give to us so we can spread freedom to the richest and most powerful among us. From there it will trickle down. Don't ask how. Trust us, it will. You must do this if you love America as much as we do."
Non-dogmatic philosophies
Some philosophies are not dogmatic. Therefore, contrary to what their critics believe, they are not religions or cults:
- Science -- which was once called the "philosophy of nature" -- has no dogma. In fact, it is the antithesis of dogma. Rather than relying on ancient texts and a rigid world view controlled by a few elders, scientists are forever examining, testing, altering, expanding and discarding scientific theories in pursuit of the truth. This confounds most dogmatists, who find comfort in relying on their old, unchanging belief systems. They find the endless search for new information disconcerting and are incapable of accepting the possibilities that portions of one's philosophy can change substantially during one's lifetime without resulting in some form of personal cataclysm.
- Atheism and Agnosticism have no position beyond "there is no evidence for the existence of god" and "I don't know nor do I care if there is a god." While there are many atheist and agnostic philosophers, there is no central authoritative council of non-believers that decides what other non-believers must not believe in to be considered good, upstanding, faithful non-believers. Furthermore, beyond the hope that the destruction of organized religion would bring about peace and harmony, there is no hope/fear structure in non-belief.
- Humanism is the belief that humans should work together and take care of each other, rather than try to exploit each other for personal enrichment.
- Rationalism is the belief that the we should conduct our lives based on reason and logic, not on any prescribed belief system. Dogmatists consider rationalism to be philosophical anarchy.
Da Film
Dogma is also the title of a blasphemous 1999 by Kevin Smith. You know it's blasphemous because (1) Chris Rock plays Jesus's thirteenth disciple (who was cut out of the Bible because he was black), and (2) Alanis Morissette plays God, which is doubly blasphemous because she is a woman and a Canadian.