#12229 Do You Need to Confess Sins from a Time Loop? & More Weird Questions - Jimmy Akin

Jun 6, 2025

Jimmy Akin, a Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers and the mind behind Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World, dives into intriguing topics ranging from time loops to moral implications of actions in cinema. He tackles a hypothetical question: if someone is trapped in a time loop and sins, do those sins carry weight once they break free? The discussion also explores the theological dilemmas presented in favorite tales like The Lord of the Rings and the concept of doppelgangers in metaphysics, blending humor with deep insights.

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INSIGHT

Sin in Time Loops Persists

Sins committed in a time loop still deform the will even if the world resets.
One must confess sins from past loops since the moral deformation persists.

INSIGHT

Culpability and The One Ring

The One Ring's temptation may diminish full knowledge and free will.
Culpability for mortal sin depends on knowledge and deliberate consent even under compulsion.

INSIGHT

Holy Spirit Guides Other Christians

The Holy Spirit works in all humans, including non-Catholic Christians.
Greek Orthodox and Coptic Christians receive guidance from the Holy Spirit despite not being in full communion.

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The Hobbit

or There and Back Again

J.R.R Tolkien

Published in 1937, 'The Hobbit' is a children's fantasy novel that introduces readers to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving hobbit, who is persuaded by Gandalf to join Thorin and his twelve dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. During the journey, Bilbo encounters various creatures, including trolls, goblins, and the mysterious Gollum, and discovers a magical ring that renders the wearer invisible. The novel is a prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' and explores themes of personal growth, courage, and unexpected heroism[2][4][5].

The Eucharist is Really Jesus

Joe Heschmeier

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].

Feasts of Our Fathers

Adam Lucas

Mike Aquilina

Summa Theologiae

null

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a monumental work of systematic theology, aiming to present a comprehensive overview of Christian doctrine. It's structured around questions and articles, exploring various aspects of faith and reason. The Summa covers topics such as God, creation, the human person, salvation, and the sacraments. It's considered a cornerstone of Catholic theology and has profoundly influenced philosophical and theological discourse for centuries. Its enduring relevance lies in its systematic approach and integration of faith and reason.

In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, we explore a fascinating Gospel mystery: When Jesus began His public ministry, did anyone recognize Him as the same child who once astonished the elders in the Temple? We dig into Scripture and tradition to consider whether that moment left a lasting impression—and why the Gospels remain silent on this point.

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Questions Covered:

02:45 – I hope this email finds you well. I’m a longtime admirer of your work in Catholic apologetics and your thoughtful approach to complex questions. I have a hypothetical theological question inspired by the movie Groundhog Day that I’d love to hear your perspective on. In the film, Phil Connors is trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd repeatedly, with only his memory carrying over each day. From a Catholic perspective, if someone in a real-life time loop committed sins during earlier iterations of the loop, but then they broke the cycle, waking up on February 3rd, would they need to confess the sins from the previous loops? Since the loop resets the world and only the person remembers their actions, do those sins carry moral or sacramental weight after the loop ends?
12:18 – Hi, I am a mega fan of Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World, I am fourteen and I have a weird question for you. First, in Lord of the Rings, how culpable are people for mortal sin when they wear the One Ring? I am asking because it is possible to ignore the temptation of the Ring.
20:20 – My second question is does the Holy Spirit guide other sects of the Catholic church such as Greek Orthodox or the Coptic? Keep the great work up, and it would make my day if you answer my questions on weird questions with Jimmy Akin.
22:28 – Is the website created by soon to be canonized Bl. Carlos Acutis a relic? For that matter, are the writings of Saints, whether in written or digital form, relics?
28:45 – Studies show that everyone likely has at least one doppelgänger. Could it be when we make life altering decisions, that a doppelgänger is actually split from us and onto a separate timeline? Like, for example, what if a doppelgänger of me actually stayed with that guy I dated and is now living the life I would have led had I not dumped him?
35:15 – Everyone seems to believe aliens, if they exist, must be strange and non-human like. But, isn’t it possible that life on another earth like planet could mirror ours? And, if so, what if the mysterious Man from Taured was actually an alien human from another earth like planet?
46:30 – Could Melchizedek have been a Zoroastrian?

#12229 Do You Need to Confess Sins from a Time Loop? &#038; More Weird Questions - Jimmy Akin

Sin in Time Loops Persists

Culpability and The One Ring

Holy Spirit Guides Other Christians

#12229 Do You Need to Confess Sins from a Time Loop? & More Weird Questions - Jimmy Akin