The Overthinkers

Support for the death penalty is going down in America. But is this a sign of moral progress or moral decay? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes debate this question with political theologian and ethicist Dr. J. Daryl Charles. References and resourcesAmerican support  for the death penality going down: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/religious-statements/opinion-polls-death-penalty-support-and-religion?Religious-secular divide on the death penalty: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/06/15/unlike-other-u-s-religious-groups-most-atheists-and-agnostics-oppose-the-death-penalty/Dr. J. Daryl Charles Recommended ResourcesJ. Daryl Charles, van den Haag, Ernest, “On Deterrence and the Death Penalty.” Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science 60, no. 2 (1969): 141-47.idem, “The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense”; accessible at the PBS “Frontline” website.idem and John P. Conrad, The Death Penalty: A Debate. New York: Plenum Press, 1983.J. Budziszewski, “Capital Punishment: The Case for Justice.” First Things (August 2004); accessible the First Things websiteJ. Daryl Charles, “Outrageous Atrocity or Moral Imperative?: The Ethics of Capital Punishment.” Studies in Christian Ethics 6, no. 3 (Fall 1993): 1-14.idem, “Crime, the Christian, and Capital Justice.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38, no. 3 (1995): 429-41.idem, “Toward Restoring a Good Marriage: Reflections on the Contemporary Divorce of Love and Justice and Its Cultural Implications.” Journal of Church and State 55, no. 2 (2013): 367-83.idem, “Capital Crime and Punishment: Reflections on Violating Human Sanctity.” Touchstone (September 2002): 29-35.idem, “Lethal Rejection: Is Capital Punishment Barbaric, Uncivilized and Always Wrong?” Touchstone (September 2016): 30-36.idem, “Capital Crimes and Capital Punishment.” Public Discourse (March 14, 2023); accessible at the Public Discourse websiteidem, “Capital Crimes and Punishment.” Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy (September 22, 2025); accessible at the Providence websiteWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkers.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmesDr. J. Daryl Charles: https://crcd.net/fellow/j-daryl-charles-phd/
 

Why do we have such a love for cozy comfort stories--whether they're books, movies, TV, or video games? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes welcome back Keelia Clarkson to discuss this along with her new book: "Chapter One Again: A Novel", the first of the Avila Falls series. References and resources
Searches for “cozy” and “comfort”: https://thecozyowlet.com/the-rise-of-cozy-reading-mystery-fantasy-and-more/Why people watch “comfort shows”: 
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1700/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202212/play-and-repeat-why-we-watch-the-same-shows-over-and-overWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmesKeelia Clarkson: ivpress.com/keelia-clarksonChapter One Again: A Novel (Avila Falls Series): https://www.amazon.com/dp/151401372X/?bestFormat=true&k=chapter%20one%20again&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ser_k0_1_17_de&crid=1ESWQJCIVVVRV&sprefix=chapter%20one%20again

Why do we have so much division today? How do we rebuild relationships across the divide? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk with Christian author and apologist Justin Brierly about his new show "Uncommon Ground", where he tries to do just that. References and resourcesIncreased US hatred for opposing political parties: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/08/09/as-partisan-hostility-grows-signs-of-frustration-with-the-two-party-system/Increased feeling of division in UK: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/uks-sense-of-division-reaches-new-high-as-culture-war-tensions-grow-study-findsExposure can increase polarization: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1804840115Don’t overstate political violence in US: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-u-s-in-a-new-era-of-political-violence-experts-say-its-complicated/WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmesJustin Brierley: justinbrierley.com

Are we shaped more by nature or nurture? Is biology or culture stronger in determining our choices? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss this topic, with Evolutionary psychologist Dr. Steve Stewart-Williams joining for the discussion, on this latest episode.
References and resources:
Defining nature vs nurture: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nature-vs-nurture
Plato’s “inatism”: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/innatism
Aristotle and John Locke’s “tabula rasa”: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/tabula-rasa

Does Christianity make your life better? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss their experience of faith.WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss the nature of "aesthetics"--appreciation for beauty and art--and why so many of us don't have the relationship with it we should.References and resourcesAesthetics definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aestheticsAesthetics history and thought: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136466132100067XWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Christians talk a lot about grace. But how does one define grace? And in an age where morality seems to be on the decline, how does one balance grace and faithfulness to what's right? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author of "The Big Relief" and founder of Mockinbird Ministries, David Zahl. References and resources:Grace definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace
Protestant Grace definition: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-graceCatholic Grace definition: https://www.catholic.com/tract/grace-what-it-is-and-what-it-doesWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjourneal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmesDavid Zahl: christchurchcville.org/david-zahl

Lots of people have mixed to negative feelings about Hollywood. Christians in particular are often scared that Hollywood hates them and is out to propagandize against them. But is fear the right attitude to have towards Hollywood movies? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with Jeffrey Overstreet, Christian film critic and author of the new book "Lost and Found in the Cathedral of Cinema". WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmesJeffrey Overstreet: jeffreyoverstreet.com

It's been six years and 300 episodes of The Overthinkers! To celebrate, Joseph and Nathan discuss whether ignorance is bliss--and if by educating everyone these past six years we've been making the world a worse place!References and resourcesDefinition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorance%20is%20bliss
Ignorance is only bliss when someone else is being the adult taking care of the problems: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-headshrinkers-guide-to-the-galaxy/201108/is-ignorance-bliss
There’s only so much truth people can take: https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area/400281/is-ignorance-blissWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes

Everyone's talking about all the struggles Gen Z is having. But what does Gen Z think about what they're going through? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk with culture writer and author Freya India about her own experiences and research on her generation, as well as her new book "Girls: Gen Z and the Commodification of Everything".References and resourcesComparing Gen Z to other generations: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/generations-by-jean-m-twenge-review-and-reflections/WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmesFreya India: freyaindia.co.uk/about