The Overthinkers

Is religion in decline or are we headed for a revival? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with America's leading political scientist Ryan Burge. Further resources Karl Marx thought religion would disappear: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/29/marx-religion-philosophy-opium Durkheim thought religion would decline/disappear: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00...

Why do people beome (and stay) Christians or any religion whatsoever? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome Nathan Sherrer on the show to discuss their testimonies and what they think that says about faith and belief in the world.  Links to more resources: Reasons why people believe in God https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-pursuit-peace/201712/the-psychology-religion   https://www.ps...

What's The Devil really like according to the original Biblical writers who talked about him? We discuss with writer and filmmaker Jared Brock, author of the new book, "A Devil Called Lucifer". Definitions of The Devil:   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Satan   https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-devil   Christiian views of The Devil: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/sa...

Everyone loves Jesus. But who was Jesus? Was he just a historical figure, or was he someone you can have a relationship with today? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with beloved author John Eldredge Americans positive view of Jesus: https://www.barna.com/research/openness-to-jesus/   Americans belief in Jesus divinity: https://www.barna.com/research/what-do-americans-believe-about-jesus-5...

The Holy Spirit is a really important part of Christian theology. But he's also the least understood. What's the traditional Christian understanding of the Holy Spirit? And why does that matter? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite author and pastor Tyler Staton to discuss. Link to more resources:   Catholic/Orthodox Split: https://www.britannica.com/event/East-West-Schism-1054 Argument for co...

Culture wars seem to dominate life today. Should we participate in them, or abandon them? If we should engage with them, how and why? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. Links to resources Definition of culture war: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/culture-war   James Davison Hunter on the culture war:    https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2024/08/09/culture-wars-james-davison-hunter-politics  ...

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Walter Hickey about what the research says on how the media we consume really does--and does not--affect us and our lives.   Time people spend with TV/Media: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2023/tops-of-2023-tv/   Sesame Street improves education outcomes: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/06...

We all love heroes. But not all heroes are created equal. What makes a hero that can stand the test of time and also make us better? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.  Resource Links   Hero definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero   Different cultural ideas of heroes: https://www.cam.ac.uk/system/files/heroes_teacher_resources_.pdf   Why Vince Gilligan thinks we need mo...

Why are there so few religious movies when the majority of the world is religious? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome back filmmaker Spencer Folmar to discuss. 85.6% of world’s population is religious. 31.6% of world’s population are Christians (majority religion); unaffiliated 14.4%: https://www.statista.com/statistics/374704/share-of-global-population-by-religion/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20a...

Nobody likes modern dating. But why is it so hard? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. Pew research on modern dating: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/   Why Does Modern Dating Suck? https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-dating-sucks-we-asked-experts/   Majority want to get married:...

How does the experience of hardship in our past affect our ability to have healthy relationships now? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author and licensed counselor Tabitha Panariso to discuss. Referenced resources Definition of trauma: https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma#:~:text=Trauma%20is%20an%20emotional%20response,from%20Recovering%20emotionally%20from%20disaster Attachment Theory...

Men and women have been involved in a "battle of the sexes" throughout history. What is the source of this conflict, and how do we solve it? We bring on cultural apologist Annie Crawford to discuss. Growing Gender Divide: https://www.axios.com/2024/09/28/young-men-women-divided-politics-religion Blesses The Essential Difference (Book) Much Ado About Nothing (Play/Kenneth Branagh Movie) A Guide to...

The romance genre may be the most popular genre in the world. But is it harmful for us? Does it create unrealistic and harmful expectations? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes bring on author, actress and podcast host Keelia Clarkson to get some answers. Links to sources Popularity of the romance genre: https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/liberal-arts/misconceptions-about-the-romance-genre   Pop...

In honor of co-host Nathan Clarkson's new Western movie "Bright Sky", Nathan and Joseph discuss whether anyone is beyond redemption, and what that means.   Links to sources cited: Summary of Thomas Aquinas’s Compilation of Answers to What is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit (including St. Augustine): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf8pin8x71Y   Psychologists emphasize the capacity to grow and ch...

How do we know our calling in life? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes talk to Biblical scholar Dr. William Klein on the history of the word "calling" and how we might be all--religious and non-religious alike--using the word wrong. Links to resources mentioned: Calling Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calling   More definitions of “calling”: https://www.christianitytoday.com/...

Many of us find it hard to read classic literature. But is there value in it worth pushing through anyway? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome author and podcast host of "Storytime for Grownups" Faith Moore to discuss how she grew to love great old books. Educators find decline in reading classic literature in 70s: https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/29/archives/decline-in-reading-of-the-classic...

How do you raise children to value their uniqueness while also growing in maturity? Sally Clarkson returns to the show to discuss with Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson the new book by Sally and Nathan: "Uniquely You" Discrimination against left-handed people: https://www.press.jhu.edu/newsroom/stuttering-and-retraining-left-handed-children-mid-century-us#:~:text=By%20the%20second%20decade%20of%20...

In the first Overthinkers episode of the new season, Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss how to follow through on our goals. Studies show that most people who set goals in the new year don't follow through on them. How do you become the exception? Well, there's studies on that too! Joseph and Nathan go through some of the best strategies on the internet--and their own experience--to help set...

Lots of people are stressed out by being with family for the holidays. Some are even planning not to spend holidays with their family. But is that a good idea? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give their tips on having a positive trip home for the holidays. Links to outside references:  15 million long-distance travelers oer Christmas in 2023: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/millions-america...

Everyone has deep desires. But what is our deepest desire? And how do we deal with the problem of satisfying that desire. Writer, award-winning folk musician, and spiritual director Strahan Coleman joins Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson to dive into what we want and how we can have it today. Links to resources discussed in the episode: Basics of Budhism: https://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhis...

Are spiritual rhythms important in everyday life? Not just on Sundays? Joseph Holmes discusses with author and artist Douglas McKelvy his series "Every Moment Holy" about how to bring the sacred into ordinary life.  Referenced Links: Barna Study - How liturgical are today’s American Christians? https://www.barna.com/research/liturgical-todays-christians/    Liturgy as an idol: https://au.thegospel...

Americans' number one fear is corrupt politicians. Why is that? And is that valid? We discuss fear of the government and propose solutions.  Links to Further Resources   Chapman University study of Americans’ greatest fears: https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/survey-american-fears.aspx     Summary of implications for new US rankings in global corruption: https://forei...

Many Christians are worried about the phenomenon of "deconstruction". But what is "deconstruction" and is it something we should fear or embrace? Author and scholar Scot McKnight and musician and pastor Tommy Preson Phillips join to discuss their new book on deconstruction "The Invisible Jesus: A Book About Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ" References and Resources:   Deconstruction Defin...

Do we have a moral obligation to vote for the lesser of two evils? Do we have a moral obligation not to? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss in the lead up to the American presidential  Election.   St. Francis advises voting for lesser of two evils, and why: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/pope-francis-kamala-harris-donald-trump-rcna171092   History of American “Lesser of Two Evi...

What are Americans most afraid of? And what does that say about us? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss. Top ten list for 2024: https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/survey-american-fears.aspx     Conversation around Americans fears: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/science/sociology-fear-uncertainty.html   Top ten list for 2014: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ne...