Doctrine vs. Doctrine - Rules vs. Customs

[nickybr38]

HOW do you explain the difference between doctrine and dogma, rules and customs when speaking to someone with no faith at all?

I have a coworker who just informed me she could never believe in any religion because they change their rules (prompted by a discussion with another coworker about the Friday obligation).

I had no idea how to explain the difference between custom and LAW … I mean, she has no religious background, nothing to draw upon … and I blanked. ): Blah.

Help?

 

[WoundedIcon]

You could say that we acknowledge that certain things work better for certain times in history. Like, say… it’s a dogma that drunkenness is wrong because of what it does to human nature, but that different types of penance are more effective for different times. Of course, I see that this person may not even understand the logic behind penance. If that’s the case then just relate it to building self-discipline.

 

[nickybr38]

Whoops, just realized I made a mistake in my title.

This one has me beat… I’m hoping I never come upon this conversation again but I’d really like to be equipped if I do because I pretty much didn’t know how to explain it to her… it’s like talking to someone from an entirely different world. Haha.

 

[tonyrey]

You could say that we acknowledge that certain things work better for certain times in history. Like, say… it’s a dogma that drunkenness is wrong because of what it does to human nature, but that different types of penance are more effective for different times. Of course, I see that this person may not even understand the logic behind penance. If that’s the case then just relate it to building self-discipline.

You seem to have answered your question!