Bad theology rarely announces itself. It usually sounds confident, persuasive, and even “more Catholic than the Church.” So how can ordinary Catholics tell when something is off?

(Links are below the description) In this episode of Fire Branded, TJ Haines lays out several simple red flags that expose bad theology and unreliable theological voices—signs anyone can recognize without a theology degree. From treating the Magisterium as optional, to undermining ecumenical councils, to cherry-picking old sources against the living Church, these patterns appear again and again in today’s Catholic debates.

Drawing on recent clashes with influential voices on social media, TJ explains how these tactics work, why they’re persuasive, and how Catholics can spot them quickly before being misled. If you’ve ever wondered how to separate solid Catholic teaching from confident-sounding error, this episode gives you a practical checklist to do exactly that.

Post-Show Notes: The complete list of tips for spotting bad theology

• (00:00) - Tips for Spotting Bad Theology Online (and elsewhere)
• (04:32) - 1. Treats the Magisterium as optional
• (09:03) - 2. Diminishes a Valid Council
• (13:53) - Cherry Picking Old Sources
• (17:27) - 4. Conspiracy Theory
• (19:53) - 5. Relies on Catholic Personalities