dogmatics
Systematic religious teaching
Dogmatics is the branch of theology concerned with establishing and systematizing religious doctrines—the official beliefs and teachings of a faith.
In Christian contexts, dogmatics examines doctrines like the Trinity, salvation, and the nature of Christ: Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics remains influential in Protestant theology.
The term is neutral in theological circles but can carry connotations of rigid orthodoxy elsewhere.
Study of church theology
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
- prolegomenaPreliminary discourse or essay
- apologeticsSystematic doctrine defense
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
election · atonement · incarnation · theodicy · providence
Religious teaching guide
- creedStatement of belief
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- tenetHeld principle or doctrine
- article of faithUnquestioned foundational belief
confession · orthodoxy · heterodoxy · heresy · infallibility · revelation · tradition · scripture
Following ordered procedures
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- scholasticismRigorous dialectical learning method
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
prolegomena · sources · norms · critical · constructive · historical · biblical · confessional
Guidance for action
- formationCreation or arrangement
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
orthodoxy · fidelity · adherence · transmission · reception · development · reform · controversy
ecclesiology
Study of church theology
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
- prolegomenaPreliminary discourse or essay
- apologeticsSystematic doctrine defense
predestination · election · atonement · incarnation · theodicy · providence
catechism
Religious teaching guide
article of faith · confession · orthodoxy · heterodoxy · heresy · infallibility · revelation · tradition · scripture · authority
systematic
Following ordered procedures
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- scholasticismRigorous dialectical learning method
dialectic · prolegomena · sources · norms · critical · constructive · historical · biblical · confessional · reformed
instruction
Guidance for action
- formationCreation or arrangement
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
confession · orthodoxy · fidelity · adherence · transmission · reception · development · reform · controversy · council
dogmaticsskepticism
Disposition toward doubt
empiricism · freethinking · critical thinking · free inquiry · rationalism
dogmaticshistorical criticism
Scholarly analysis of ancient texts
biblical criticism · religious studies · hermeneutics · apologetics
dogmaticsphilosophy
Study of fundamental truths
ethics · phenomenology · metaphysics · moral philosophy · humanism
- dogmatic beliefAssertion accepted as absolute truth
dogmatic, dogmatism, dogmatist, dogmatize, undogmatic, dogmatically, dogmatized, dogmatizing, dogmatisms