Oikeaoppinen

Oikeaoppinen is a Finnish adjective meaning orthodoxic or dogmatic in relation to doctrine, belief, or official policy. It describes someone or something that adheres strictly to an accepted set of ideas or rules and tends to resist deviation from that doctrine. The word is formed from oikea, meaning correct, and oppi, meaning doctrine, with the suffix -inen.

In religious contexts, oikeaoppinen can refer to adherence to the established creeds or theological positions of a church, often in contrast to more liberal or heterodox interpretations. In secular contexts, the term is used to characterize political, ideological, or organizational positions that follow a recognized doctrine or party line. Depending on usage, it can be neutral, simply descriptive, or carry a critical, somewhat pejorative nuance when it implies rigidity or lack of critical examination.

The concept is common in Finnish media, academic writing, and public discourse when analyzing ideological conformity, doctrinal debates, or the dynamics of dogmatic movements. It is not a fixed label for a specific group but a descriptive descriptor that highlights adherence to a defined doctrine rather than to empirical flexibility or pluralistic interpretation.

Etymology: from oikea meaning correct and oppi meaning doctrine, with the adjectival ending -inen. See also orthodoxy, dogmatism, doctrinalism, and political orthodoxy.