Baby Yoda? Artificial Intelligence & Souls? Prime Directive? Vampires? (& More Weird Questions!)

It’s a fifth Friday so Jimmy Akin is answering more weird questions from listeners, including whether Baby Yoda needs to fast; do AIs have souls?; is the Prime Directive ethically defensible?; should we destroy vampires?; and more.

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Silent Enemy (ENT)

What happens when you meet a truly alien species? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Enterprise episode focused on Malcom Reed that also explores how humans are truly pioneering into dangerous, unknown territory. Should they be more defensive in first contacts?

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Carnival and Mardi Gras in the United States

The period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday is known in some Catholic places as Carnival, a time to celebrate before the penitential season of Lent. Tom and Noelle Crowe Tell us that in many places it is far from the bacchanalia of the popular imagination with many family friendly customs.

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What is the Mark of Beast? (RFID, chip, vaccine?)

The Book of Revelation describes a terrifying beast with the number 666 and that people had to take the mark of the beast on themselves. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli consider what the mark is: a literal tattoo, a computer chip, a vaccine, or even the Covid vaccine?

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Emperor Palpatine

Execute Order 66! Fr. Andrew, Angela, Mike, and Andrew H. talk all things Emperor Palpatine, from his character and personality (his Dark Triad of Personality), to what lessons he can teach us (especially about our own fight against evil since Palpatine parallels Satan in the spiritual life), to what moments in his vast life were our favorites.

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The Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844

In Philadelphia in 1844, tensions between Catholics and Protestants over religious indoctrination in public schools boiled over into violence. Tom and Noëlle Crowe tell how anti-Catholic nativism sparked running street battles that left dozens dead and dozens more homes, businesses, and churches destroyed.

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Communication with the Dead (Séances, Mediums, Channelers, Spiritism, Spiritualism)

Throughout the ages, grieving people have sought contact with the dead, including through the use of mediums. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask whether mediums really can contact the dead, whether we should trust them, and what the Bible has to say about it.

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