Sam’s comment on my post On Religionism, raises a valid point: just what, exactly, is religion without dogma? Two religions may offer the key to understanding: Unitarian Universalism and the Bahá‘í Faith.
Dogma is often, at least among Christians, succinctly stated in a creed. Islam, too, has a creed, known as the aqidah. Interestingly, among the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism is the only one without a creed, per se. There are many reasons for this, among them a focus on orthopraxy – “right practice” – rather than orthodoxy – “right belief.” (Some, too, may say that the Shema Yisrael is the Jewish creed; though, this opinion seems not to be universally accepted.)
A creed identifies the basic beliefs, usually metaphysical, to which all adherents are supposed to hold.
Unitarian Universalists, however, celebrate their “faith without a creed.” Instead, they advocate seven “principles” that do not define metaphysical belief but rather reinforce what the UU community stands for.
Bahá‘ís, too, discount the value of creed. From my quite limited understanding, they acknowledge three basic truths: the unity of God, the unity of religion, and the unity of humankind. Apart from those truths, Bahá‘ís acknowledge that all peoples have received wisdom that forms an incomplete picture of the Truth. They, too, adhere to principles of right living and community-building.
The English Puritan Richard Baxter once said, “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.” As a Catholic, albeit a quasi-heretical one (to be explained later), I find it ironic that a Puritan might utter such a phrase, but then, Baxter was not your average zealot. Regardless, I think he spoke the truth. The question begged is thus:
What things are necessary?
That question can – to a mind unencumbered by allegiance to Earthly institutions, orthodoxies, or orthopraxies – have but one answer. As even Sam has acknowledged, albeit within the context of Judaism, there can be many paths to Truth, but ultimately there is only one necessary belief:
