Doctrine

Main Page » Religion » Doctrine

Part of a series on Religion

Gods
Avani · Erik· Haelyn · Belinik · Nesirie · Sera · Cuiraécen · Eloéle · Kriesha · Laerme · Ruornil
Temples
Avani · Erik · Haelyn · Belinik · Nesirie · Sera · Cuiraécen · Eloéle · Kriesha · Laerme · Ruornil
Doctrines
Ariyan School · Holn's Companionship · Doctrine of two swords · Dominionism · Principles of Fitzalan · Orthodox Principles Parthenae Doctrine · Berhagen school Fisker Doctrine · Viking Doctrine

A doctrine is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings", taught principles or positions, in a knowledge or belief system. It differs from dogma in that a doctrine is specific to an individual faith, how that faith interprets the teachings of their deity (and can differ from other faiths of that same deity), while dogma is the core understanding of a deity that is shared between all faiths and interpretations of that specific deity. For example, Haelyn is the god of Justice - that's dogma - but whether an individual temple domain promotes a hard, unforgiving justice or a softer, gentler, forgiving justice - or some other interpretation - is a matter of their individual doctrine.
Temple domains are themselves separated by allegiance to a regent, but temple domains can also be divided by different doctrines, different interpretations and beliefs regarding the "true path" to follow for their deity.
Individual priests and believers within a single faith (a single temple domain) will invariably embody differences of opinion, interpretation, and analysis, but since by definition a domain is united by obedience to a regent, differing doctrines within a domain can be fodder for politics and challenges for PCs. (Most domains should not be perpetually undermined by too much inter-doctrinal strife without some agreement between players and DM that this is the game they want to play.)
A special example of this is when different faiths are combined in a single domain, through loyalty to a single regent. The doctrines of the various faiths should be reasonably compatible common unity behind a single regent. However, it is possible for some members of a faith to be committed to a regent for very limited reasons. Domains threatened by awnshegh might be able to attract a wide group of followers who want nothing more from the regent than protection from the abomination.
Temple domains can be divided by a difference in doctrine (as with the Great Captain/Heresy random event, for example). One of the reasons for founding regents to break away from a larger domain is a critical doctrinal difference. Some temple domains are rival to other domains not only because they have rival regents, but also because they have rival doctrines.
On the other hand different domains can be united by a similar doctrine. After all regents of a similar outlook can still have different strategies, different problems, and different sets of friends and enemies. Doctrines can change over time, either becoming more or less in line with each other, or more or less compatible/acceptable to the doctrines of faiths of other deities.