What is paradigm?

Question

in religion.

Answer 1

The word paradigm  first appeared in English in the 15th century, meaning "an example or pattern," and it still bears this meaning today.

More accurately a paradigm is a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

Answer 2

A paradigm is essentially a pattern or a construct that a given ideology or dogma places upon its believers/members.

Answer 3

A paradigm is the realm in which all ideas at a certain time are located, or the boundary. There can be 'paradigmatic shifts' in religion, meaning that the paradigm is widened or changed to include ideas which were not previously accepted -  for example in some christian faiths they have come to accept the theory of evolution.