The Pain of Dogma

As you might have guessed, I write biblical exegesis.  That “big churchy word” simply means I spend excessive amounts of time thinking on scripture.  Questions drive this pursuit.  Sometimes, things feel “not right” between what I read and the way I was taught to read 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?” you ask.

Humans define things and ideas.  Dogma is the end of a progression of thoughts.  It is not isolated in one religion or even to religion.  Atheists have their dogmas too.  Every endeavor of man is filled with dogmatic beliefs.

“Where does dogma come from?” you ask.

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

However, that is also the problem with dogma within Christianity.  It ends discussion.  It ends thinking.  A concept that should bind us together in unity actually forms division and denominationalism.

“How could that happen?” you ask.

Too many of the concepts called dogma should never have been given that status in the first place.  Traditions turn dogmatic.  They once had a reason, but after a few generations, the people no longer think of them with reason.  They just keep the tradition.  They add rituals to make it more impressive, more “holy.”  Those become dogmatic too.  Nothing wrong in that, except when it is forced on someone else who questions the reason behind the tradition.

Discussions to solve a question develop into arguments about arguments until the original problem is no longer discussed.  Then, one group picks one side of the argument.  Another group picks the opposite side.  Each group believes their beliefs are true; therefore, their adversary’s beliefs are heretical.  The groups become theological enemies.

Corrupt leaders control a populace using dogmatic beliefs.  We must accept dogma without question.  We must plug our ears to opposition or be in rebellion.  We must condemn those who think differently.  If not, our group will reject us.  Ignorance makes compliance easier.  All we need to know is what we are told.

However, not thinking about their covenant with God led the Israelites to worship their neighbor’s idols.  Not thinking of a better solution let religious rituals become more important to salvation then God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Not thinking about the meaning of God’s commandments made people “act right” but not love a neighbor or even parents.

No subject that segregates the body of Christ into denominations should be considered so holy it cannot be discussed.  If there are many “solutions,” then the final solution to the original question is yet to be found.  The reason for the belief is lost in dogma.  We simply stopped thinking.

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