DOGMA DOMAINS
Perceiving Dogma
Dogma is an abstract concept- much like the Truth itself, you can't just see dogma in reality. It can make it a bit hard to perceive what exactly people mean when talking about dogma.
Dogma are beliefs that we hold as unquestionably true. In holding such strict beliefs, we prescribe conflict at some point. Juries out on whether dogma and the ensuing conflict is justified. While it makes certain social interactions easier, it will inevitably cause conflict with the self, relationships, and humanity as a whole.
Let's get started with specific examples. There are 6 key domains of life that are constantly loaded with dogma (and perhaps not so unexpectedly, conflict):
OvervIEW
Religion is a domain deeply intertwined with tradition, cultural identity, and spirituality. Dogma in this context refers to the established beliefs and doctrines considered indisputable by religious institutions and followers. These dogmatic beliefs are often seen as divine truths that guide moral behavior, rituals, and the interpretation of sacred texts.
It's important to note that not all belief in god mandates dogmatic religion. Religion certainly gets a bad reputation because of how much it's leveraged by bad actors. Many questionable doctrines have been pushed out via messaging that's summarized as "believe this or face eternal damnation."
While many would argue that's why theism is a useless and dangerous relic of humanity's past, others argue that the proclivity for exploitation is the exact reason why religion must be properly taught and practiced. I say it's like saying casual sex and substance use are a relic of humanity's past and "Just don't believe!" is a good enough campaign to stop people from believing whatever the hell they want.
Feel free to take a moment and reflect on what you think about this. If humanity has clearly demonstrated a nature to believe in something greater and more abstract than physically evidenced reality; is it more important to control that inclination or indulge it in healthy ways?
But that's a bit off topic for right now. Another post for another day. Let's focus on examples of when religion most certainly is dogmatic.
EXAMPLES OF RELIGIOUS DOGMA
Literal Interpretation of Texts
- Description: Some religious traditions insist on a literal interpretation of their sacred texts, rejecting any symbolic or metaphorical understanding.
- Impact: This can lead to rigid practices that may not adapt well to modern contexts, creating conflicts with contemporary values or scientific understanding.
- Case Study: The Scopes Trial (1925) in the United States, where the teaching of evolution was contested due to literal interpretations of the Bible's creation story.
Exclusivity of Salvation
- Description: Many religious doctrines assert that salvation or enlightenment can only be achieved through specific beliefs or practices, often excluding others.
- Impact: This exclusivity can foster division, intolerance, and conflict between different religious groups.
- Case Study: The historical conflicts between Protestant and Catholic Christians during the Reformation era, where differing beliefs on salvation led to significant violence and political upheaval.
OVERVIEW
In government, dogma refers to the rigid adherence to political ideologies, traditional systems, or existing laws and policies without considering evolving societal needs and the flexibility that our democratic systems provide us.
Dogmatic governance often prioritizes ideological purity over practical solutions. For some reason, when it comes to government, people think that winning means imposing your unquestioned viewpoints on everyone else.
Instead of ever trying to accommodate the fact that people just have different views on what living correct is, everyone is competing for conquest of thought.
EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT DOGMA
Strict Adherence to Economic Ideologies
Strict Adherence to Economic Ideologies
Strict Adherence to Economic Ideologies
- Description: Governments may rigidly adhere to economic ideologies like laissez-faire capitalism or state-controlled socialism, disregarding the potential benefits of a mixed or adaptive approach.
- Impact: This rigidity can lead to economic instability, inequality, or inefficiency.
- Case Study: The economic collapse of the Soviet Union, where strict adherence to centralized planning failed to meet the complex needs of the economy, leading to widespread shortages and eventual collapse.
Nationalism and Ethnic Supremacy
Strict Adherence to Economic Ideologies
Strict Adherence to Economic Ideologies
- Description: Dogmatic nationalism often involves the belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnicity, leading to exclusionary policies and xenophobia.
- Impact: This can result in domestic oppression, ethnic cleansing, or aggressive foreign policies.
- Case Study: The rise of fascism in Europe during the 20th century, particularly Nazi Germany, where dogmatic nationalism and racial ideology led to the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust.
OVERVIEW
When discussing science, dogma refers to the adherence of established theories as absolute proof at the expense of new reasoning and evidence. Scientific dogma can stifle innovation, limit exploration, and create an environment where dissenting ideas are dismissed without fair evaluation.
While axioms are essential to building scientific paradigms, and paradigms are structurally built out from these core axioms, this doesn't mandate that we consider these axioms to completely and accurately describe reality. They just provide the logical foundation for any given paradigm. They are true for the sake of any given theory or paradigm.
When any given paradigm produces enough positive results, it becomes effectively true until into empirically proven false and/or another paradigm offers a higher degree of predictive accuracy. The question is whether or not people adopt these approximate truths pragmatically for the sake of building out the picture in other areas, or dogmatically as if science completely stops every time we reach a conclusion that's at least partially effective.
Examples of Scientific Dogma
Logical Positivism & Scientific Realism
Logical Positivism & Scientific Realism
Logical Positivism & Scientific Realism
- Description: On a macro level, people with a "scientific perspective" generally prescribe to one of two schools of thought, whether they are consciously aware of the belief being adopted or simply belief it's the truth. Both view points assert that if it can't be described by science, it's not real.
- Impact: While this focus has driven tremendous advances in science and technology, it has marginalized other ways of knowing, such as ethical, aesthetic, or existential insights that resist empirical measurement. The result is a worldview that can overlook the complexity of human experience, reducing knowledge to what can be verified or quantified, and undermining the richness of philosophical pluralism.
- Case Study: Wegner's theory of continental drift was rejected merely because at the time, there were no geological theories that could explain his theory. He wasn't denied for any flaws in his theory or logic, merely because there's often a gap between insight and effective experimentation.
Medical Dogma
Logical Positivism & Scientific Realism
Logical Positivism & Scientific Realism
- Description: As a more specific example, individuals who adhere to a "scientific perspective" in medicine often subscribe to one of two dominant schools of thought: conventional medical science or evidence-based practice. Both viewpoints operate under the assumption that if a treatment or theory cannot be rigorously tested and quantified through scientific methods, it is either ineffective or not real.
- Impact: While this emphasis on evidence-based medicine has led to significant advancements in healthcare, it has also marginalized other approaches that don't fit neatly into the conventional scientific framework. This narrow focus on measurable, short-term outcomes can overlook the complexity of human health, undervaluing the interconnectedness of body, mind, and environment. As a result, a more comprehensive understanding of health and wellness has been delayed.
- Case Study: A prime example is the recent validation of gut health and its influence on overall well-being. For decades, holistic approaches emphasizing the gut’s role in mental and physical health were dismissed by conventional medical practitioners. The idea that gut bacteria could impact conditions like anxiety, depression, and immune function was seen as speculative or pseudoscientific due to a lack of direct empirical evidence. However, recent research in microbiome science has now demonstrated the profound influence of gut health on various aspects of human physiology, including mood regulation and immune response. This delayed recognition highlights the consequences of rigidly adhering to medical dogma, which often dismisses emerging but untested theories that could provide a more complete picture of health.
OVERVIEW
In the domain of morality, dogma refers to the strict adherence to a set of moral principles or ethical standards that are considered absolute and unquestionable. Moral dogma often stems from religious beliefs, philosophical traditions, the influence of local authority figures, or societal norms and dictates what is considered "right" or "wrong" without room for personal interpretation or contextual consideration.
While it's important for us all to individually consider what's right or wrong and discuss it with whatever communities we are a part of, when we make absolute claims whether certain actions are universally right or wrong, we create an inevitable conflict as societal issues often have multiple layers to them.
When we don't allow for nuance, we find ourselves in situations where our absolute morals pull us in different directions and we don't have any viable options for action. This type of paralysis is arguably encouraged by the ruling class when they don't want people looking for things to change about society.
Specific Examples of Moral Dogma
Moral Absolutism
Witch Hunts, McCarthyism, etc
Witch Hunts, McCarthyism, etc
- Description: Moral absolutism is the belief that certain actions are intrinsically right or wrong, regardless of context or consequences. This belief often leads to the rejection of alternative moral perspectives.
- Impact: Moral absolutism can result in intolerance, as those who hold different moral beliefs are often judged or condemned as immoral or unethical.
- Case Study: The debate over issues like abortion often hinges on moral absolutism, with some groups viewing it as unequivocally wrong regardless of circumstances, while others advocate for more nuanced, context-dependent views.
Witch Hunts, McCarthyism, etc
Witch Hunts, McCarthyism, etc
Witch Hunts, McCarthyism, etc
- Description: Moral absolutists generally assert that if behaviors or practices deviate from established moral or religious norms, they are inherently wrong, dangerous, or even evil, leading to the persecution of individuals regardless of if there's any evidence of actual harm being done.
- Impact: By enforcing rigid moral standards, societies overlook nuance, fail to engage with differing perspectives, and undermine a more pluralistic, compassionate understanding of human behavior.
- Case Study: The Salem Witch Hunts and McCarthyism are both prime examples of moral dogmatists and the generally intolerant using a falsified position of moral superiority to attack anyone who doesn't comply with oppressive social authorities like everyone else.
More Involved DOgma Domains (BReather CHeck)
Academic Dogma
Not only is there an entire dogmatic belief set around academia itself, the entire current education model is dogmatically demanding the regurgitation of specific information.
Corporate Dogma
Corporate dogma are the beliefs asserted by the leadership of any given company. Without proper government regulation, including severance requirements and/or a proper social safety net, this gives business direct control over many individual's freedom