Dogma

Dogma, an authoritative and precisely formulated statement of a religious doctrine that is advanced, not for discussion, but for belief. In its strict sense, the term seems to be peculiar to Christianity. To qualify as a dogma, the formula must fulfill two conditions: It must be derivable from revelation, as attested by Scripture and tradition; and it must be promulgated by some widely recognized ecclesiastical authority. Dogmas have usually been formulated at times of doctrinal controversy, in order to clarify the orthodox teaching in the face of heretical aberrations. Some dogmas formulated by ecumenical councils in the early centuries of the church still command the assent of the great majority of Christians in both the East and the West. Such, for example, is the definition of the person of Christ by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 (see Chalcedon, Council of). Other dogmas come from later times and are binding only within the Roman Catholic church. Such are the Marian dogmas of the immaculate conception (1859) and the assumption (1950) and the dogma of papal infallibility (1870).

Even the most revered dogmas are, like all doctrinal statements, affected by cultural relativism and thus from time to time must be rethought and restated. Terms such as substance, nature, and person, used by the Council of Chalcedon, reflect a philosophical framework that is now obsolete. Nonetheless, the governing intentions of the ancient dogmas still serve as norms for theological discussion.