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The Overthinkers

A place to have fun thinking deeply! Every week, the hosts of The Overthinkers pose a question having to do with art, faith, philosophy, psychology, literature, pop culture, creativity, and more—then attempt to answer it with the help of New York Times bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, Oscar-winning Hollywood directors/actors, Grammy-winning musicians, esteemed academics, prolific professors, and many more influential and intriguing guests. This is a place where you can both think well and laugh loudly. All are welcome, so put your thinking caps and your laughing socks on and come on in!

Copyright: © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

How Do You Get Through Going Home for the Holidays? Dec 08, 2024

Show notes

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-americans-expected-to-travel-christmas-new-years-day-aaa/

How to survive going home for the holidays: https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-to-survive-going-home-for-the-holidays/

https://medium.com/youalberta/how-to-survive-home-for-the-holidays-99daba2e6e9f

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/empowerment-solutions/202212/home-for-the-holidays-how-not-to-get-triggered

Blesses:
Elf
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Curses:
The Family Stone
Four Christmases
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story

What Do We Really Want? (With Strahan Coleman) Dec 01, 2024

Show notes

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/buddhism.htm

The Stoics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/

Augustine and Desire: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/an-analysis-of-one-of-the-greatest-sentences-ever-written/

Charlotte Fox's 12 Universal Desires:

https://healthforlifegr.com/examining-the-deepest-human-desires-charlotte-fox-weber/#:~:text=In%20her%20book%2C%20Charlotte%20Fox,have%20what%20we%20shouldn't.

8 Things People Desire But Can't Attain:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/05/24/the-top-8-things-people-desperately-desire-but-cant-seem-to-attain/

Blesses
Book - Georgia Douglas Johnson Poetry
Book - The Religious Sense
Movie - Deadpool and Wolverine
Book - Surprised By Joseph Holmes
Movie - The Book of Clarence
TV Shows - Agatha All Along
Thinker - Teresa of Avila
Thinker - St. John of the Cross
Book - The Cloud of Unknowing
TV Show - Bridgerton
Curses
Movie - Saturday Night
Movie - Joker: Folie à Deux
Good Cafes that serve terrible coffee

Overthinkers Team Contact and Websites:
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Strahan Coleman Links and Websites:
Thirsting: Quenching Our Soul's Deepest Desire: https://www.amazon.com/Thirsting-Quenching-Souls-Deepest-Desire/dp/0830785205
Beholding Prayer Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beholding-prayer/id1669562572
Commoners Communion: https://www.commonerscommunion.com/about

Why are Spiritual Rhythms Important? (With Douglas McKelvey) Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

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.thegospelcoalition.org/article/liturgy-word-god-enough/

Liturgy detached from theology: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/07/church-liturgy-trends-history-tradition-theology-popular/

Church makes you give more to charity: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/12/12/are-religious-areas-more-charitable

Frequent church attendance means better mental health: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/frequent-churchgoers-better-mental-health/
Blesses
Book - Desiring the Kingdom
Movie - Wildcat
Anime - Barakamon
Book - The Book of Common Prayer/The Daily Office
Book - Everything Sad is Untrue
Curses
Book - Living in Wonder
Book - The Daily Stoic

Overthinkers Team Contact and Websites:
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Douglas McKelvey and Every Moment Holy links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quothdouglas/?hl=en
Every Moment Holy Website: https://www.everymomentholy.com/about-the-series

Are All Politicians Corrupt? Nov 17, 2024

Show notes

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://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/28/report-transparency-international-corruption-worst-decade-united-states/

Christopher Bader interview on Chapman University study: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/science/sociology-fear-uncertainty.html

Liberty of the Ancients vs the Moderns speech: https://fee.org/resources/the-liberty-of-ancients-compared-with-that-of-moderns/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUvAN9dp6i3daV7OFgzeY5hfEwHv9JPJETxoenffgIjunKHUPd1SGBUaAj3NEALw_wcB

Federalist 51 - James Madison’s justification for our system of government in men’s natures: https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-51-60

Blesses:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Death of Stalin

Hamilton

Trial of the Chicago 7

Curses

The West Wing

Civil War

Don’t Look Up

Megalopolis

Overthinkers Team Contact and Websites:
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Is Deconstruction a Good Thing? (With Scot McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips) Nov 10, 2024

Show notes

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 Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deconstruction

What Does Deconstruction Mean? https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-deconstruction-even-mean

How many people deconstruct? https://www.barna.com/trends/ex-christians-deconstructing/

Why We Should Not Redeem Deconstruction https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/redeem-reconstruction/

Five Reasons Young People are Deconstructing Their Faith: https://careynieuwhof.com/five-real-reasons-young-people-are-deconstructing-their-faith/

Deconstruction encounters from Pastors: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/07/deconstruction-faith-pastors-church-lifeway-survey/

Rise in family estrangement: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/why-parents-and-kids-get-estranged/617612/

Rise of “everyone’s toxic”: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/toxic-person-tiktok-internet-slang-meaning/670599/

Millennials true religion: customizable beliefs, observation by Dr. Jean Twenge, author of Generations: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/generations-by-jean-m-twenge-review-and-reflections/

Blesses

WIldcat

The Great Dechurching

Mrs. Davis

Curses

First Reformed

Silence

Bonhoeffer (film)

Contact and Websites:

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Scot McKnight: https://scotmcknight.substack.com/

Tommy Preson Phillips: http://presonphillips.com/

Should We Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils? Nov 03, 2024

Show notes

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 Evils” debates: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/lesser-of-two-evils-history-voting/

Reasons to not vote lesser of two evils:

https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-voting-lesser-two-evils-waste-vote

https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2023/08/karty-the-lesser-of-two-evils-argument-needs-to-die

Americans disatisfied with choices: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-dismayed-by-biden-trump-2024-rematch-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2024-01-25/

Federalist 51 - Why lesser of two evils thinking is built into American government:

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-04-02-0199#:~:text=If%20men%20were%20angels%2C%20no,on%20government%20would%20be%20necessary.

Blesses:

The Righteous Mind

Eye in the Sky

Lincoln

13 Days

Curses:
X/Twitter/Threads

God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust

Conclave

Contact and Websites:

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What Are We Most Afraid Of? Oct 27, 2024

Show notes

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/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/30/clowns-are-twice-as-scary-to-democrats-as-they-are-to-republicans/
Blesses
The Village
Nope
Where's God When I'm Scared

It: Part One

Curses
Beau is Afraid
It: Part Two

Contact and Websites:

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Is Witchcraft Harmless? (With Mary Jackson) Oct 20, 2024

Show notes

There's a rise in interest and practice of witchcraft among young people. Is that worth being concerned about? We discuss with journalist Mary Jackson.
Notes from the show:

Witchcraft definition:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft

Witchcraft history:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/witchcraft

Mary Jackson's article on rise of witchcraft and its harms:
https://wng.org/articles/out-of-darkness-1713232697

More modern witchcraft trends

https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a42798881/magic-touch-witchcraft/

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/paganism-witchcraft-are-making-comeback-rcna54444

https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2021/september/wicca-berger-conversation.html#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20there,approximately%20800%2C000%20Americans%20are%20Wiccans

Blesses
The Crucible
The Village
Talk to Me
The Screwtape Letters
Curses
The Witch
The Front Room
The Wicked Witch character
Contact and Websites:

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Mary Jackson at World Magazine: https://wng.org/authors/mary-jackson

Mary Jackson on X: https://x.com/mbjackson77

Do Demons Exist? (With Dr. Joy Vaughan) Oct 13, 2024

Show notes

Do demons exist? If so, what are they like? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome New Testament Scholar, author, and demon-expert Dr. Joy Vaughan to help them navigate the world of supernatural evil on this latest episode of spooky month.
Further links:

Demon definition:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demon

Demon history:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/angel-religion#ref410057

70% of Americans believe in The Devil:

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4400922-americans-ghosts-aliens-devil-survey/

Modern day exorcism debate:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/health/exorcism-doctor/index.html

Mental health vs demonic possession in Middle Ages:

https://www.bu.edu/cas/demonic-obsession-a-different-look-at-mental-health-in-the-medieval-period/

Bless:

Movie - Interview with The Devil

Movie - The Deliverance

Book - Glimpses of The Devil

Books by Adam C. Blai

Curse

Movie - The Exorcist: Believer
Movie - The Exorcism

(Not curse - warning against) Spiritual Warfare Handbooks

Websites:

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Dr. Joy Vaughan: https://www.asbury.edu/about/directory/joy-vaughan/

Is Fear Ever a Good Thing? Oct 06, 2024

Show notes

Everyone wants to overcome fear. But is fear ever something to embrace rather than reject? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss in their latest episode - the first of scary thinking month.
Links to referenced resources:

Fear Definition:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fear

Fear is one of our most powerful emotions:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/face-fear

Rise in anxiety:

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/annual-poll-adults-express-increasing-anxiousness#:~:text=Washington%2C%20D.C.,2023%20and%2032%25%20in%202022.

At least 60% have at least one unreasonable fear:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/fear

How to manage fear:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-overcome-anxiety-and-fear

How to cope with fear:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-overcome-anxiety-and-fear

Overcome fear of failure:

https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-failure?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=domcontent&utm_term=Non-Brand&tpcc=paidsearch.google.dsacontent&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9Km3BhDjARIsAGUb4nwDJRKY-UqTLI2l-f2j_V2lDqJbzLPSBCH9F-rauYz0tIz42SGFOPUaAuUTEALw_wcB

Overcome fear of change:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/201809/how-overcome-the-fear-change

Fear and authoritarianism:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/02/authoritarian-leaders-people-safe-voters

No fear in love:

https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/1%20John%204%3A18

Fear - Costs and Benefits:

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2022/10/fear-when-it-rational-and-when-it-unhealthy

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-fear-is-a-good-thing_b_8258746

Blesses:

Video Game: Outlast

Movie: A Quiet Place

Curses:
The Terrifier
Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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