doctrine

Codified belief system

Doctrine is a set of beliefs or principles taught and held by a group—religious, political, or institutional.

Church doctrine defines what adherents believe.

Military doctrine establishes standard procedures for operations.

Legal doctrine refers to established principles that guide court decisions: the doctrine of precedent.

The word implies official teaching that followers are expected to accept.

religious

dogma

Unchallengeable official beliefs

creedStatement of belief
canonAccepted authoritative works
catechismReligious teaching guide

theology · orthodoxy · heresy · schism · apostasy · excommunication · blasphemy · sacred · profane · liturgy

teaching

instruction

Guidance for action

pedagogyArt of instruction
curriculumEducational program's content plan
didacticIntended to instruct

precept · tenet · principle · maxim · axiom · dictum · lesson · transmission · disciples · adherents

political

ideology

Structured belief framework

manifestoPublished statement of principles
platformRaised flat structure
propagandaBiased information for influence

statecraft · sovereignty · interventionism · isolationism · containment · deterrence · détente · appeasement · expansionism · imperialism

legal

precedent

Prior authoritative example

jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
common lawJurisprudence from judicial decisions
civil lawLaw governing private disputes

statutory · judicial · codification · interpretation · constitutional · admiralty · equity · tort · liability · due process

military

strategy

Planned approach to goals

tacticsMethods to achieve goals
operationsPlanned systematic activities
counterinsurgencyCombating armed rebellion tactics

asymmetric · nuclear · deterrence · first strike · mutually assured destruction · warfare · engagement · deployment · maneuver · attrition

philosophical

dogmatism

Unyielding adherence to doctrine

rationalismReason as knowledge source
empiricismKnowledge through observation
skepticismDisposition toward doubt

determinism · essentialism · foundationalism · relativism · absolutism · nominalism · realism · idealism · materialism · dualism

Categories

beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
principlesprinciple, ethics, tenet, morals, axiom
dogmadogma, creed, tenet, belief, precept
founder's legacyvision, legacy, mission, philosophy, values
theologyecclesiology, eschatology, Christology, God, dogmatics
certaintiesfact, truth, proof, certainty, guarantee

Opposites

theoretical vs practical

doctrinepractice

Repeated work toward mastery

action · application · conduct · operation · execution

orthodox vs heterodox

doctrineheterodoxy

Unorthodox belief or opinion

heresy · dissent · apostasy · nonconformity · unorthodoxy

certainty vs doubt

doctrineskepticism

Disposition toward doubt

doubt · disbelief · unbelief · agnosticism · freethinking

Phrases

secret doctrineHidden spiritual teaching
religious doctrineOfficial spiritual teaching
church doctrineOfficial religious beliefs
Monroe DoctrineAnti-colonial foreign policy stance
castle doctrineRight to defend home forcefully
Bush DoctrinePost-9/11 foreign policy stance

Family

doctrinaire, indoctrinate, doctrinal, indoctrination, doctrines, indoctrinated, doctrinally, indoctrinator, indoctrinating

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