The Three Types Of Dogma

[Stormwarden]

In my experience I find there are three types of Dogma.

 

Dogma is that nasty little thing that people try to define their beliefs by, and so rather than thinking it out, they simply point to a particular set of beliefs and say "There you go."

 

The three types of Dogma:

 

I. Religious- The most obvious sort of Dogma. Examples include the various religions.

 

II. Political - This one isn't much of a surprise either. People divide themselves as Democrats, Republicans, Independent, or other. Other examples of dogma include socialism, capitalism, communism, etc. This can often be almost indistinguishable from religious dogma, with the sole distinction being in the motive of the two.

 

III. Cultural Dogma: Many people I have talked to are surprised that i would call this a separate Dogma. Many often consider Cultural dogma and religious dogma one category. And while it is true that religion often influences culture, the two retain a wholly separate identity. Remember, the US is in a culture of fear. US politicos would use fear to scare people into voting for them.

 

The problem with Dogma: It prevents freethought by rendering it a "bad" thing. It makes questioning the tenets unconscionable. A solution to this would take generations to bring forth, but it is possible.

 

Solutions-

 

I) First, there must be an allowance for free discussion, without fear of offending someone. The PC (Political Correctness) era makes this an almost monumental task, as more people are scared of offending someone in the US.

 

II. Once the above is done, Show that questioning is not inherently evil. People must first be free to question, and to do so boldly. Once a dialogue is open, more solutions emerge.

[pandora]

You'd think society can agree on those very simple and reasonable suggestions, but I am not counting on it if I am to stay in the US.

[Stormwarden]

You'd think society can agree on those very simple and reasonable suggestions, but I am not counting on it if I am to stay in the US.

 

Neither am I, Pandora, simply because a lot of people would be too bullheaded or set in their ways to realize that there is more than one solution to this puzzle we call life. Once we get beyond the silly notion that dogma should rule one's life, then others can get pragmatic.

 

I applaud, in this capacity, many people here at Ex-C, so have seen this for themselves, and managed to overcome it, albeit not easily (overcoming dogma is no easy task, as my experience as an Ex-Mormon has taught me).

 

To better sum up my answer to the problems of the world: Let's stop waiting for some God to show up, roll up our sleeves, and get cracking. No more time to prayer, just time to act.

[BlueGiant]

There is another way to not fear offending someone: just don't care. While there is a protection against assult, there is not one against being offended. Works in any envionment as well, and generally someone who tells it like it is will be respected in the long run.

[Curtdude]

....Let's stop waiting for some God to show up, roll up our sleeves, and get cracking. No more time to prayer, just time to act.

 

Amen to that! :wink: Listening to people whine to some god/jesus/allah/whatever, seeking some "reason for the pain and suffering," when they could just shutup and do something constructive, is really one of the great downfalls of religion. I don't know how much wasted effort I witnessed in the church watching believers wring their hands over real problems (hunger, poverty) but for them, praying about it was about the best they could do. Or listen to them try to turn others' problems into "witnessing opportunities." Just gag me, please.

[Stormwarden]

Blue Giant has a very good point. Not fearing the possibility of offending someone would make that easier.

 

And, as Curtdude mentioned, no longer wasting time with "witnessing" or asking Gods to intervene by bending the rules for you, would also help out a lot.

 

Imagine what could be done by not wasting time in prayer and dedicating oneself to aiding others instead (giving alms is one of the seven pillars of Islam)? I think a god as supposedly just as Allah would forgive that.

 

But then, many call tyrant gods "just."