The Pain of Dogma

As you might have guessed, I write on biblical theology. That simply means I spend excessive amounts of time thinking upon scripture. Questions drive this pursuit. Sometimes, things feel “not right” between what I read and the way people teach a passage. Other times I wonder why denominations believe differently. It is my nature to figure out the problem and find a solution instead of ignoring or discarding my heritage of belief.

However, thinking that long means I dissect dogma and find most of it inadequate.

“What is dogma?”

Humans define ideas and end the progression of thoughts with something most people accept. We call this dogma. We do not isolate this process in religion. Atheists have their dogmatic beliefs too. Humans fill every endeavor with ideas that cannot change.

“Where does dogma come from?”

Dogma is not dogma until someone decides it is dogma. In an ideal state, we believe in “something.” and teach it as a good or bad idea. The next generation agrees and builds upon that teaching. They emphasize good attributes and call that doctrine, which becomes a “must know” for understanding. Eventually, a future generation says this is the only way to know that “something.” Once we no longer question its validity, we call it dogma.

However, making something dogmatic also causes problems within Christianity. It ends the discussion. It ends thinking. Instead of unity, often dogmas form a division.

“How could that happen?”

Too many of the concepts called dogma should not have that status. Traditions turn dogmatic. They once had a reason, but after a few generations, people stop thinking about them logically. They just keep the tradition. Those believers add rituals to make the traditions more impressive, more “holy.” Those become dogmatic too. Questioning the culture becomes heretical.

Discussions to solve a question develop into arguments about arguments until no one discusses the original problem. People pick sides and believe their beliefs are true; therefore, their adversary’s views are heretical. The groups become theological enemies.

Corrupt leaders control people by using dogmatic beliefs. Ignorance makes compliance easier. They insist we accept teachings without question. We must plug our ears to opposition or be in rebellion. Condemnation centers on those who think differently.

However, not thinking about their covenant with God led the Israelites to worship their neighbor’s idols. Overthinking religious rituals let the rituals become more important to salvation than God’s mercy and forgiveness. When religion becomes our focus, it distorts the meaning of God’s commandments. People reject “love a neighbor” to perform rituals.

We should not accept as dogmatic any subject that segregates the body of Christ into denominations. None of them are so holy they cannot be discussed. If there are many “solutions” to a question, then we have not found the final solution to the original problem. We lose the reason we have multiple beliefs. We simply stopped thinking.

I pray we find God’s solutions and once again unify.