In the media discourse, the concept of heresy is often given a meaning which deviates from the meaning agreed upon in the scientific and theological debate. Defining a specific phenomenon as a “heresy” is less about deviation from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and more about departures from common interpretations of those teachings or about seeking to restore their traditionalism. This article examines two contemporary axes of conflict that are called heresies by the participants in the debate. Using the methods of critical discourse analysis and analysis of the available data, answers were sought regarding the genesis of the heresies, the reasons for their being recognised as such, and the actors in the process, as well as the explicit and hidden goals of the phenomena. In the cases analysed, the use of the concept of “heresy” served the interest of symbolic elites and was an effective tool for legitimising group identity.
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