Orthodoxy

Orthodoxy refers to beliefs regarded as correct, true, or authoritative within a religious, philosophical, or cultural system. The term derives from the Greek orthos, meaning right or straight, and doxa, meaning opinion or belief. In general usage, orthodoxy denotes adherence to accepted or traditional doctrines, in contrast with heterodoxy or heresy, which signify deviation.

In Christianity, orthodoxy denotes the beliefs held by the historic church. The term is used to describe the Eastern Orthodox Churches, which emphasize continuity with the first seven Ecumenical Councils and with the early creeds, including the Nicene and Chalcedonian definitions; it is also used to distinguish Oriental Orthodoxy, a group of churches that retained non-Chalcedonian Christology. The concept of orthodoxy is tied to the idea of "right faith" as opposed to teachings deemed incorrect by church authorities.

Outside theology, orthodoxy broadly means the standard or accepted position in a given field, such as economic orthodoxy or political orthodoxy. The distinction between orthodoxy and heterodoxy or unorthodoxy frames debates about tradition, reform, and authority. A related concept is orthopraxy, which emphasizes correctness of practice rather than belief.