Doctrine vs. Dogma: The Difference?
Question: Dear Father Cush, I hope that this is a simple question — what’s the difference between doctrine and dogma?
Answer: Dear Reader, that is a great question and it is one that even I get confused by sometimes. The problem lies in the fact that these terms, “doctrine” and “dogma,” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings within the context of Catholic theology. Let’s start by defining each of them!
Doctrine can be defined as all the teachings of the Church on matters of faith and morals. This encompasses a broad range of teachings that guide the beliefs and practices of the faithful. Doctrines are authoritative and require the assent of believers, but they can vary in their level of authority and the degree of assent required. They can develop and be refined over time as the Church grows in understanding of divine revelation. Some examples of doctrines are the teaching on the nature of the sacraments as well as moral teachings of the Church on issues such as social justice, sexuality, and the sanctity of life. Doctrines can be subject to development and deeper understanding as theological reflection and historical contexts evolve. While they are authoritative, they are not always defined infallibly.
Dogma, on the other hand, is a subset of doctrine. It refers to those doctrines that have been formally and infallibly defined by the Church as divinely revealed truths. Dogmas are considered essential beliefs that are necessary for the faith. Dogmas carry the highest level of authority within the Church. They are proclaimed as infallible by either the Pope (when speaking ex cathedra) or by an ecumenical council. Believers are required to give full assent of faith to dogmas, and denial of a dogma is considered heresy. Some examples of dogma are that of the Most Blessed Trinity, which teaches that God is one in essence but three in Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the infallible dogmas of the Immaculate Conception (which teaches that Mary was conceived without original sin) and of the Assumption (which teaches that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven.)
Dogmas are considered immutable, meaning they cannot change because they are divinely revealed truths. However, the Church’s understanding and articulation of a dogma can develop over time.
So, what then is the difference between doctrine and dogma? First, doctrine includes all Church teachings on faith and morals, while dogma refers specifically to those doctrines formally defined as divinely revealed. Second, all doctrines are authoritative, but dogmas are proclaimed infallibly and require the highest level of assent from the faithful. Third, doctrines can develop and be refined, whereas dogmas are considered unchangeable truths, though our understanding of them can deepen. Fourth and finally, believers must adhere to doctrines, but the denial of dogma is considered heresy. So, all dogmas are doctrines, but not all doctrines are dogmas. The distinction lies in the level of authority and the degree of assent required.
The Many Branches of Theology
Question: Dear Father Cush, what is the difference between dogmatic theology and fundamental theology? Is there one?
Answer: Dear Reader, thank you for your question. This is kind of like getting into “insider baseball.” Yes, there is a difference between fundamental theology and dogmatic theology, but there is also a greater overlap between the two theological disciples. You see, for most areas of study, like Christology or Ecclesiology, we can say that it can be taught as both fundamental theology AND dogmatic theology. To put it simply, fundamental theology is the “why?” of theology. It answers questions about the very nature of theology, the transmission of divine revelation, theological method, and the credibility of divine revelation. On the other hand, dogmatic theology is, if you will allow it, the field of theology that answers the question of the “what?” of theology. Dogmatic theology answers questions concerning the content of the faith. Please allow me to go a bit deeper.
Fundamental theology is a branch that studies the transmission of Divine Revelation through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as well as how the Magisterium of the Church interprets them. It also speaks about the credibility of Divine Revelation, which is the field of apologetics. Fundamental theology is the area where theology is in dialogue with culture, science, and philosophy. As one can imagine, it is an essential field for the promotion of the New Evangelization. Faith, belief and unbelief, atheism, agnosticism, and secular humanism are all considered in the area of fundamental theology. One might say that fundamental theology is the “Why?” of theology. An important Vatican II document that can help us understand fundamental theology is Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation). In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, part one, section one, chapters one to three cover much of the areas studied in fundamental theology.
Fundamental Theology, within Catholic theology, is a branch that deals with the foundational aspects of the faith. It seeks to establish the rational basis for the Catholic faith and address questions related to the credibility and intelligibility of Christian revelation. Here are key components and goals of Fundamental Theology: The first would be the rational justification of the faith, including arguments for the existence of God, using philosophical reasoning and evidence from natural theology, as well as the concept of divine revelation, how God communicates with humanity, and the reasons for believing that such revelation has occurred. Second, it would explore the nature of the Bible, its divine inspiration, and the reasons for its authority in matters of faith and morals, as well as the role of Sacred Tradition in transmitting divine revelation is studied.
In addition, fundamental theology looks at the Church’s role in preserving, interpreting, and proclaiming divine revelation. Fundamental theology would also consider the authority of the Church’s teaching office, the Magisterium, and its role in safeguarding the faith.
Fundamental theology addresses how faith and reason complement each other, countering the notion that they are in opposition. As such, it has apologetic efforts to defend the faith against objections and misunderstandings, using reason and evidence. It also traces the historical development of key doctrines, showing continuity and consistency in the Church’s teaching and looks at how understanding and articulation of doctrines have developed over time while remaining faithful to the original revelation. Finally, fundamental theology engages with other Christian traditions to find common ground and address differences.
Dogmatic theology, on the other hand, is a branch of Catholic theology that systematically studies and explains the doctrines of the faith as defined by the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church). It aims to present these doctrines in a coherent and comprehensive manner, grounded in Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching. Here are the key components and goals of dogmatic theology:
Dogmatic theology organizes and explains the various doctrines of the Catholic faith in a systematic way, showing their interconnections and logical consistency. It covers all major areas of doctrine, from the nature of God to eschatology. Dogmatic theology relies on both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as sources of divine revelation. It is deeply rooted in magisterium of the Church.
Dogmatic theology can be divided into several sub-divisions:
- De Deo Uno – The study of the unity of God
- De Deo Trino – The study of the Most Blessed Trinity
- Christology – The study of the One Divine Person and Two Natures of Jesus Christ (i.e., Who is Jesus Christ?)
- Soteriology – The study of how Jesus saves us
- Pneumatology – The study of the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, God, the Holy Spirit
- Mariology – The study of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
- Ecclesiology – The study of the Church
- Sacraments – The study of the Seven Sacraments
- Protology – The study of Creation
- Eschatology – The study of the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and hell
- Theological Anthropology – The study of what it means to be a human being in light of Christ
For me, these topics, both fundamental and dogmatic, are among the many things that make theology so exciting! They are separate, but they are so connected and neither can exist without each other!
About Rev. John P. Cush, STD
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