Doctrine/dogma

[willguy]

Okay, I'm trying to figure out what the technical difference is between a dogma and a doctrine. For example, I know that Mary's divine maternity, perpetual virginity, immaculate conception, and assumption are dogma. Mary as Mediatrix (and Co-redemptrix I believe) is doctrine. Does that mean that we don't have to believe it? I'm so confused... :blink:

[cmotherofpirl]

DOCTRINE. Any truth taught by the Church as necessary for acceptance by the faithful. The truth may be either formally revealed (as the Real Presence), or a theological conclusion (as the canonization of a saint), or part of the natural law (as the sinfulness of contraception). In any case, what makes it doctrine is that the Church authority teaches that it is to be believed. This teaching may be done either solemnly in ex cathedra pronouncements or ordinarily in the perennial exercise of the Church's magisterium or teaching authority. Dogmas are those doctrines which the Church proposes for belief as formally revealed by God. (Etym. Latin doctrina, teaching.)

Pocket Dictionary

I wold think that wouyld be dogma as well bwecause they are parts of the same thing.

[cathgirl]

I found some info. for you!!!!

"But according to a long-standing usage a dogma is now understood to be a truth appertaining to faith or morals, revealed by God, transmitted from the Apostles in the Scriptures or by tradition, and proposed by the Church for the acceptance of the faithful. It might be described briefly as a revealed truth defined by the Church -- but private revelations do not constitute dogmas, and some theologians confine the word defined to doctrines solemnly defined by the pope or by a general council, while a revealed truth becomes a dogma even when proposed by the Church through her ordinary magisterium or teaching office. A dogma therefore implies a twofold relation: to Divine revelation and to the authoritative teaching of the Church.

"Taken in the sense of "the act of teaching" and "the knowledge imparted by teaching", this term is synonymous with CATECHESIS and CATECHISM. Didaskalia, didache, in the Vulgate, doctrina, are often used in the New Testament, especially in the Pastoral Epistles. As we might expect, the Apostle insists upon "doctrine" as one of the most important duties of a bishop (I Tim., iv, 13, 16; v, 17; II Tim., iv, 2, etc.). "

"Anyway, dogma is not only a Kevin Smith movie but also a teaching of the Church which is declared formally as a defined teaching of the faith which is unchangeable. An example might be the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Ain't no way we're changing that...

Doctrine, whilc definitely Catholic teaching, is not as defined by a Pope or Ecumenical Council. Thus, doctrine is not necessarily infallible teaching - for instance, the just war doctrine of the Church is teaching which may evolve, change. "

"Sometimes you will see these two words mistakenly used interchangably. There is a big difference between a dogma and a doctrine. All dogmas are also doctrines, but not all doctrines are dogmas. The Magisterium of the Catholic Church classifies Church teaching into several different categories of importance. A dogma is on the highest order of Church teaching. All the other doctrines are classified into several different orders of importance. I tried to explain this earlier in this forum, but I saw that I was only beating my head up against a wall so I refrained from anymore explanation."

http://www.saintolaf.org/cross/recent13.htm#dogma

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05075b.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05089a.htm

I couldn't find anything on having to believe in doctrines yet, so I don't know if this will help at all!!! I'm gonna keep on looking b/c I often wonder this, too.

[Aloysius]

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=7322

you can also identify dogma by saying that dogmas are those truths are declared essential to the Gospel message

[willguy]

So doctrines are binding?

Also, is Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediator, and Advocate doctrine (I know it's not dogma, though some people are trying to get it made such).