Catholic Answers Live

“What are Near Death Experiences?” This question opens a discussion on near-death experiences and the nature of the soul. The conversation also addresses critiques of NDE content, the concept of purification in the afterlife as described by Father Nathan Castle, and intriguing thoughts on the relationship between soul and brain in hypothetical scenarios.

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Questions Covered:

00:55 – What do you say to critics of your content on NDEs, who say that it understates the skeptical research in the academic NDE literature?

18:50 – What do you think of the way purification seems to occur in Father Nathan Castle’s afterlife accounts? It would seem that rather than experiencing a “painful” and “fiery” purification as often depicted in pious stories and prayers about purgatory over the centuries, the souls essentially just learn new things and gradually correct their misunderstandings and errors, including needing to come to grips with their past sins and their effects on others. The idea that angels, saints and deceased relatives all get involved at different points along the journey of purification of souls and to help them move to a new level really appeals to me.

36:17 – If two individuals had their brains swapped, would their soul remain in their original bodies? Or if it stayed, how would the mismatched soul/brain experience consciousness?

46:01 – My wife is utterly convinced that all lizards including and especially the dinosaurs used to be dragons and wings were the limbs mentioned in Genesis when God punished the serpent. Note that most modern-day lizards although they do have legs still scurry around on their bellies because of their wide stance.

“Can humans possess one another?” This question opens a discussion on the nature of influence and control, including the implications of brainwashing techniques. Additionally, the episode addresses what happens to souls in purgatory at the end of the world and whether it’s morally acceptable to seek the identity of a ghost that may be trying to communicate. Other intriguing topics include the concept of fallen guardian angels and their replacements.

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Questions Covered:

03:40 – can human beings possess one another? For example: would brainwashing techniques done by the CIA and other government agencies with the use of LSD and other mind-altering drugs count as possession? My understanding is that the subject’s personality is changed, and they become very influenceable. Is this a form of possession by humans?

20:07 – My 9-year-old son loves listening to your show. He is wondering if you could shed any light on what might happen to the souls in purgatory when the end of the world comes. Do they get forcibly zapped through the rest of their purification process?

33:21 – If you have good reason to believe a ghost in purgatory is trying to get your attention, is it morally okay to ask them to reveal their identity? Context: a few years ago I was home alone with my newborn daughter on All Souls Day and heard repeated loud rattling sounds coming from the kitchen. The baby began screaming. I calmly walked out and said, “Whoever is bothering my baby, go away.” The rattling stopped and I have never heard it since. I have had Mass said for the soul, and also for one person I suspect it might have been, but I am not sure. Is it forbidden to ask for such knowledge or should I be content to wait?

44:37 – Are there fallen guardian angels, if so do we get a replacement if our intended guardian angel fell?

Can human reason alone lead us to the conclusion that God is personal, even without divine revelation? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists tackle deep philosophical and theological questions about God, authority, and the Church. The discussion explores whether Eastern Orthodoxy has a singular teaching authority comparable to the papacy, why Catholics often receive only the host and not the chalice at Communion, and whether extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are sometimes overused. Additional topics include whether Adam was a single historical person or a group, how to evangelize someone immersed in New Age spirituality, and whether the early Church taught any doctrines no longer held today. A thoughtful conversation on Catholic theology, Church practice, and apologetics.

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Questions Covered:

12:36 – Is there a way to arrive at the conclusion of the personhood of God without resorting to revelation?  

21:46 – Does Eastern Orthodoxy have a singular authority like we do? 

29:07 – How come everyone takes the host for communion but not everyone gets the chalice? 

32:07 – Are extraordinary ministers of holy communion only to be used in emergency situations? My priest doesn’t always give communion at mass. He lets the EMs do it. Is that an abuse? 

39:35 – Was Adam one man or a group of men? 

43:00 – How do you start a conversation with someone who’s kind of a “new age junkie?” Like they’re always looking for a spiritual high or buying the next big self-help book, but can’t be bothered to open the Gospels? 

48:54 – Is there something that the early church believed in terms of doctrine that isn’t taught today?

Why did the Pharisees and Sadducees fiercely disagree about the resurrection, and why is the resurrection so central to Catholic belief? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists explain the theological importance of bodily resurrection before tackling questions about the Protestant and Jewish biblical canons, including why Maccabees is missing despite its connection to Hanukkah. The discussion also explores common misunderstandings about Catholic teaching on salvation, including accusations of “works-based salvation,” how justification can grow even while Christians still commit venial sins, and the connection between the Bread of Life discourse and Christ’s Passion. The episode concludes with pastoral advice for someone in OCIA facing family conflict about becoming Catholic and attending Mass.

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Questions Covered:

04:22 – Why was there a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees on resurrection, and why is it so central to Catholic teaching? 

11:14 – Is the protestant bible based off of the Jewish translation of the bible? Why doesn’t the Jewish bible have  Maccabees, since those books contain the origin of Hanukkah? 

20:10 – How would we respond to someone who pushes back when we say don’t believe in a works-based salvation? They say that we would claim someone loses their salvation if they miss Mass. 

30:20 – How do we reconcile a justification that progresses and still commit venial sin? 

37:01 – How close in time was the bread of life discourse to the Passion of Christ? 

51:30 – I’m in OCIA and my husband doesn’t agree with my decision. If I were to become Catholic and I can’t make it to mass because of issues at home, will I be in mortal sin?

“How is the Eucharist not cannibalism?” This question opens a discussion on the nature of the Eucharist, addressing misconceptions while also touching on the movement of the Holy Spirit in communities, the need for an infallible interpreter of scripture, and the concept of mortal sin in Catholic teaching.

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Questions Covered:

04:24 – How is the Eucharist not cannibalism?

15:30 – I think the Pentecostal belief in the real movement of the Holy Spirit within the community was pretty convincing. What is the best response to this?

22:31 – How do I answer the following: The Catholic argument that we need an infallible interpreter for scripture would not work because then you would need an infallible interpreter of the infallible interpreter and so on.

37:08 – For Catholics almost anything can be a mortal sin but for Jesus there is one mortal sin.

43:00 – What was lacking in Jesus that made the Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah in the early church?

52:15 – How do we interpret the magisterium? How do we know when we are interpreting the magisterium correctly?