#11851 Ask Me Anything - Jimmy Akin

Questions Covered: 02:59 – What are the implications of praying to a saint that may or may not have ever existed? Couldn’t this be dangerous/dubious in some way? I’m referring to saints that were probably local myths/legends. I take it you know some examples better than me since I’m a new Catholic.  06:23 – Are there other Marian beliefs beyond her Assumption and immaculate conception which the church could realistically issue as doctrines in the near future? Maybe even dogmas?  12:53 – Can Catholics play D&D? 14:27 – Will there be different happiness levels in heaven? For example if ones family didn’t make would they be less happy then if someone’s family did make it? 16:37 – What is “hyper papalism?” 18:09 – Does the Church currently teach that coeducation (especially of adolescents) is evil and are people dissenters for preferring it? 21:47 – The “lost” years of Jesus. Please. 28:49 – While Jesus was incarnate, how was he the creator of his contemporaries? (I’m cath., just looking to understand better). 31:21 – What does Mary’s assumption mean in context of resurrection? Why are some biblical figures resurrected and others are assumed to heaven (like the prophet Elijah), and what can we expect? I know that’s more than one question, but I also know you’ll come up with a succinct answer 33:53 – The topic of bulimia, anorexia, if eating disorders are sinful or not, are they signs of demonic oppression? How can one overcome them with the means of which the Church provides? Daily Mass isn’t possible unfortunately 36:37 – In Matthew 12, 1-8 Jesus is referring to a story from 1 Sam 21, 2-7. My question is, why is He talking about David and his companions (verse 3) eating the bread, when David was alone there talking with Achimelek? The young men David is talking about are not there with him, so they did not eat the bread with David. It seems that Jesus is wrong about the story He is referring to. I’d appreciate an answer to this, thanks for your work Jimmy 41:52 – How do I respond to a seventh day Adventist asking, If the soul survives beyond death, then why do you need Mary to be bodily assumed? I don’t know if I should approach this the same way I would approach this with any protestant or if I should deal with soul sleep and then use the same argument. Thank you God bless. 50:50 – I’ve been thinking about patron saints and would like to identify some for those suffering with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. St. Dymphna is a good start, but are there any others? 52:14 – Doctrinal development in general… This is a core issue with my family members not accepting the Church. They will admit the Marian dogmas may be true, and don’t in principle reject them. They just can’t see why we should be compelled to accept them as “De Fide”. …