What term describes a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative?

The term that best describes a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative is "dogma." This word is often used in religious or ideological contexts to refer to established beliefs that are accepted without question or dissent. Dogma represents not just any belief system but one that carries a weight of authority, suggesting that the beliefs it encompasses are seen as definitive and binding for those who adhere to them.

Philosophy, while also concerned with belief systems, is typically broader and more open to questioning and debate. It doesn’t imply a strict adherence to certain doctrines in the way that dogma does. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation or model based on a body of evidence, but it can be challenged and revised over time, unlike dogma. Principles generally refer to fundamental truths or propositions that guide behavior or reasoning but lack the authoritative insistence associated with dogma. Thus, within this context, dogma is the most accurate term for an authoritative code of beliefs.