Difference between Doctrine and Dogma?

[Big_Feet]

Can someone please explain the difference of “Doctrine” and “Dogma” within the Church?

 

[FrDavid96]

Can someone please explain the difference of “Doctrine” and “Dogma” within the Church?

Dogma has a higher standard.

Dogma is what MUST be believed in order to be a Christian. Example: the Trinity, the Resurrection, etc.

Doctrine is what the Church teaches. We cannot deny or contradict doctrine.

Someone might be unaware of certain doctrines, but still be a faithful Christian. Transubstantiation would be an example here. No one can deny it, but there might be someone who never heard the actual word “transubstantiation.” The fact is a dogma, the use of the word is a doctrine.

Use of the two words dogma/doctrine can and do sometimes overlap. After all, all dogmas are doctrines.

The main difference is that dogma is a “stronger” word and there is a higher standard to employ the word “dogma” than to use “doctrine.”

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Dogma is doctrine defined. It is absolutely necessary for a Catholic to believe dogma. Doctrine is still required to be believed, but it doesn’t require the same level of faith, because it isn’t defined. An example could be everything in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is doctrine, therefore we are required to believe it. However, not all of it is dogma, so it can still be developed further (not changed, but developed).

 

[Big_Feet]

Thank you both, very much!