With evidence of burial rituals and culture, were Neanderthals spiritual beings like us? We explore their place in theology, along with topics like praying in dreams, moral behavior in animals, the nature of heaven, and whether we could ever learn like computers. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 01:13 – What physical explanation can parapsychology offer? Because one thing is describing phenomena, another one is explaining it in a physical framework.  11:15 – How are we to consider our Neanderthal cousins? They were hominids, close enough to us that we interbred (I have more than the average Neanderthal DNA), they had a culture, and there is evidence that they not only buried their dead, but buried flowers and grave goods with them, hinting at a belief in the afterlife. Yet, they were different from us, and they went extinct millennia before the Incarnation. Theologically, how are they considered? semi-Neanderthal minds want to know!  16:31 – Can animals act in ways that are morally good or evil? i.e. the dog that saves the child vs the dog that bites the child. What implications, if any, would that have on the prospect of an animal afterlife?  22:44 – If I am asleep and I dream that I am praying, is it possible that God and the saints I ask for intercession hear those prayers? And if I receive a blessing in the context of my dream, is it possible that some minor intercession has occurred?  29:15 – If a sincere penitent in the confessional confesses that he has set a bear trap outside the priest’s confessional, set to go off the moment the priest exits the confessional, could the priest require the penitent to remove the bear trap as a part of his penance? Or can the priest not make requirements like that in order to give absolution? (One that I’ve actually gotten from my students!)  34:34 – Tell us about your Arkansas accent. It’s coming on pretty thick these days. I assume you lost it when you moved to CA and now that your back you just naturally fell back into it?  41:30 – I’ve never heard anyone address this: after the resurrection, we will be reunited with our physical bodies. So is heaven a physical place?  44:15 – Growing up I was told that our souls wander about while we sleep as an explanation for Deja vu. I know in the past you’ve attributed Deja vu to remote viewing, how similar are these 2 ideas?  52:45 – The mystery of learning and memory. Why can’t humans learn, store, and recall information in the same way a computer does (i.e. massive storage, data compressibility/extractability, can download and upload information, etc.)? It would seem extremely beneficial if humans could learn via download and share via upload like computers. Just to qualify I mean the speed of data transfer as well. For example, instead of spending years learning a new language, just download it and have perfect fluency (similar to the Matrix and how Neo could learn things). 

Can a kamikaze-style sacrifice ever be morally justified? We explore the ethics of self-sacrifice in sci-fi scenarios and real life, along with deep (and wild) questions about vampires, psychiatric visions, Jesus’ second coming, and even the Rick Astley paradox. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 02:23 – If someone were to kill everyone on earth to force Jesus’s second coming, would Jesus come? If the person did it to save everyone so they can all go to heaven, would this make them a good or bad person?  05:00 – Are heaven and hell customized for you and how you lived?  06:55 – If you sacrifice your life for God, do you go to hell for committing suicide?  14:45 – Could a killer whale get a taste for human flesh?  17:55 – I worked as a firefighter/EMT for a while and people prided themselves about having a stiff upper lip and a tough cynical personality. I got to thinking, some people are more docile, and some seem to pride themselves in having a rough edge. When we are perfected in heaven, will we all have the same disposition/temperament and just different talents and interests, or will our different dispositions remain?  22:01 – How will a body not be destroyed when living on earth forever? For example—If you fall off a cliff or get crushed?  28:57 – Can you please comment on the moral implications of the following? In Return of the Jedi, an A wing pilot gets shot down and plows his ship into the bridge of the Executor. Can a space pilot do this if death is a near certainty become a kamikaze? Or, in 2009’s Star Trek movie, Captain Kirk’s father stays behind and navigates the Kelvin on a collision course with the Romulan vessel to protect escaping shuttles. He sacrifices himself and the ship to save his son. Can the captain of a ship stay behind to again be a kamikaze to inflict heavy damage on somebody else and/or save other people if it means certain death?  32:59 – My Mom and sister are both nurses in a psych ward. They have had hundreds of patients who claim to see Angel’s and Demons. Some patients who claim they have seen them also knew personal information they shouldn’t have about Mom and Sister. Do you think these people are actually connected to the spiritual realm in a way we aren’t or is it just a mental illness?  38:08 – If a priest were to become a vampire, would he have to retire?  41:30 – If Santa Claus (not St Nicholas) were to die would he go to heaven?  44:01 – Will we see Wooly Mammoths in our lifetime? Will they really be Wooly Mammoths or something else that looks like them?  48:46 – How does the Rick Astley paradox work? Here’s how it goes: If you ask Rick Astley for a copy of the movie Up he can’t give it to you because he can’t give you Up but if he doesn’t give you Up he lets you down. This has been my hardest question since I heard it. What do you think?  50:54 – Sorry this is kind of a gross one. A few years back, there was a news story about a man who had his leg amputated and then had his friends over for a party where they ate tacos made from his amputated leg. While this is definitely strange, is it necessarily immoral?

Some claim Catholics trust the Church more than Christ—but is that true? We explore this common misunderstanding along with questions on Jesus’ “brothers,” historical temple virgins, and how to reach out to loved ones who feel unwelcome in the Church. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 01:55 – I’ve heard that Catholics put more of their faith in the Church over Jesus. What is your response to that? 16:37 – How do we know that the brothers of Jesus were actually cousins? 24:47 – Are there historical sources for Jew temple virgins? 40:52 – Is there anything I can say or do other than pray, to help a loved one soften their hearts on their belief that the Church is unwelcoming?

A common misconception is that Mary’s perpetual virginity is optional to believe. We clarify Church teaching and how to explain it respectfully, along with insights on binding and loosing, the birth control pill, and how to talk about pornography and marriage. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 06:30 – Does binding and loosing represent the Sensus Fidelium? 13:35 – Why is the pill considered abortifacient? 19:22 – Does God operate based on condition? I can’t wrap my head around the principle of double effect. 30:46 – How do I explain to my daughter in law who’s going to OCIA the perpetual virginity? She learned in class that the Church has never clarified and that her perpetual virginity is optional to believe? 42:54 – We tend to hear in TOB circles that men who are addicted to pornography should be avoided when considering marriage? Would you say the same start can be used for women? 51:27 – How do you avoid making circular arguments for the papacy and magisterium?

Romans 8–9 is often cited in support of Calvinist theology—but is that the only way to read it? We explore a Catholic interpretation of these powerful chapters, along with questions about the priesthood, interfaith prayer, and the role of bishops in setting fasting rules. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 1:00 – Why does the office of the priesthood deserve reverence and respect and how is it beautiful? 08:23 – What kind of authority does a bishop have over fasting rules? 14:40 – Will there be a new temple built in Jerusalem? 18:52 – How do I read Romans 8-9 without reading Calvinism into it? 29:28 – Pope Francis inaugurated the Abrahamic house. Is it smart to be praying with Muslims? 36:40 – How do I respond when I don’t know the answers? 47:31 – Where do you see the papacy in the Council of Nicaea?

Is it really possible for spiritual harm to be passed down through families? We explore the Church’s view on generational curses and demonic influence, along with insights on martyrdom, the Eucharist, and the connection between Revelation and the Gospel of John. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 03:58 – Is Jesus’ view of election the same as the parable as the wedding feast? 10:20 – I’ve never been able to understand, how is the incarnation not a change? 17:45 – Is there a connection between Revelation and the gospel of John in regard to the relationship between Jesus and Mary? 23:32 – What are the rules and guidelines for picking a confirmation saint? 33:02 – Do you think it real or possible for people to experience demonic activity due to family curses? 42:28 – What does it take to be considered a martyr in the Church? 47:01 – Why do some people not see a change in their lives after they receive communion for many years? 50:22 – If we consider Baptist Christians, would they go to heaven, purgatory or hell?

Some Catholics are concerned about recent changes to synod structures and future decisions. We take a closer look at Pope Paul VI’s vision for synods, the Church’s stance on women’s ordination and same-sex unions, and answer more on valid marriage, frozen embryos, and Mary’s sinlessness. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 14:40 – Why does the pope not follow Pope Paul VI’s understanding of synods only being made up of Cardinals? Will he allow women priests and homosexual weddings? 20:50 – What does the Church require for a marriage to be valid? 24:36 – Why doesn’t the Church have an articulated position on frozen embryos? 33:14 – Why does the Catholic moral belief prioritize the individual and neighbor over family and kin? 41:34 – Why does the Church believe in patron saints? 46:43 – If Mary was human, how was she sinless? 48:09 – Why aren’t the remains of a cremated loved one allowed to be kept in a home? 51:06 – Why do we believe in the God of the Old Testament?

Many Protestants ask why Catholics follow papal authority when it’s not explicitly stated in Scripture. We explore the biblical and historical roots of the papacy and also explain why Catholics reject sola scriptura, differences in baptism, and the rules around receiving Communion. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 07:16 – Why do Catholics follow the doctrines and orders of the pope even if it’s not written in the bible? 19:00 – Why don’t Catholics follow Sola Scriptura? 37:24 – Why is baptism different among Catholics vs Baptists? 47:20 – Why can’t non-Catholics receive communion at a Catholic Church? How would one explain it to them?

Navigating Mass with an estranged spouse can be difficult, especially when co-parenting. Dr. Ray offers guidance on maintaining peace and setting a good example for children, along with insights on family boundaries, self-compassion, and recognizing spiritual experiences in prayer. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 21:06 – Navigating Mass with an estranged spouse: How can he foster peace while co-parenting post-divorce? 30:20 – Is it ethical to challenge therapists who advise cutting off family members? A listener questions Dr. Ray’s stance. 36:04 – How can he manage negative self-talk and stop assuming the worst about others’ intentions? 41:21 – She struggles with being her own worst critic—what are some practical tools for self-compassion? 44:25 – She and her father are estranged from her younger sister—how can she start the path to reconciliation? 49:02 – Therapy vs. self-help: Can Dr. Ray expand on why seeing a therapist is different from following social media advice? 51:25 – Is a peaceful, tingling feeling during prayer a sign of the Holy Spirit? How can he discern spiritual experiences?

Opus Dei often sparks curiosity—and controversy. But what is it really, and how does it function within the wider Catholic Church? We explore this question and also discuss papal resignation and the balance of free will and institutional pressure. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 33:36 – Does a papal resignation raise concerns about free will vs. pressure within the Vatican? 37:31 – What is Opus Dei, and how does it fit into the larger Catholic faith?