The Overthinkers

What is Church? (With Father Astor Yelangueuzian)

A growing number of people in The West are abandoning church, reinventing church, and saying we need to come back to church. But what even is church? We discuss with Anglican minister Father Astor on our latest episode. 
 
Links to further resources:
 
 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/origin-nature-church/
 
https://www.catholic.com/audio/sp/the-true-meaning-of-the-word-church
 
https://www.simplycatholic.com/what-we-believe-what-is-the-church/
 
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/who-is-the-church
 
https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/is-anyone-going-to-church-more-now#:~:text=The%20most%20recent%20estimate%20comes,MILLION%20between%202008%20and%202022.
 
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2018/08/01/why-americans-go-to-religious-services/
 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/americans-christians-dont-go-church-must/
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/21/leaving-christianity-religion-church-community/
 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/church-increases-generosity/
 
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/psychiatry-needs-to-get-right-with-god/#:~:text=Yet%20the%20only%20group%20to,42%20percent%20one%20year%20ago.
 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/review/the-toxic-war-on-masculinity/
 
 

Is Reason or Faith Better?

Should you live more by reason or by faith? Two overthinking Christians--Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes--give their answer. 
 
Link to resources:
https://academic.oup.com/book/38895/chapter-abstract/338046901?redirectedFrom=fulltext

How Do We Disagree Better? (With Dr. John Inazu)

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome author and law professor Dr. John Inazu to discuss his new book "Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect", and how we can learn to live and love across difference in a very divided time.
 
Links to further reading:
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/06/19/public-highly-critical-of-state-of-political-discourse-in-the-u-s/
 
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/
 
https://academic.oup.com/psq/article/138/3/361/7192889
 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/toxic-person-tiktok-internet-slang-meaning/670599/
 
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/10/05/is-political-polarisation-in-america-really-rising?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWKutu5cpatSnt-JDHO96RsLTUPtJLvrNgYHhaeYekLLWeneAzOh1fxoCRqIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
 

How Do the Metaphors We Use Shape Us? (With Dr. Joy Clarkson)

How do the metaphors we use to describe ourselves and our world shape us--for good and ill? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes bring back author Dr. Joy Clarkson to discuss the limits of how we describe ourselves in the modern world and what metaphors we should add to our vocabulary. 

Are Blockbusters Ruining Movies? (With Jillian Schroeder)

Some filmmakers are claiming that blockbusters are dumbing down audiences so that they can't appreciate better, more challenging movies. But is that true? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on film critic Jillian Schroeder to discuss on this latest episode. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-marvel.html
 
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/martin-scorsese-marvel-theme-parks-1203360075/
https://www.flavorwire.com/492985/how-the-death-of-mid-budget-cinema-left-a-generation-of-iconic-filmmakers-mia
 

Is It Okay To Be Single?

Many single people find themselves ashamed of their singleness. But is being single always a bad thing? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson--a single and a married man--discuss.
 
External links:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/more-americans-are-choosing-to-stay-single/

How Do You Find A Spouse? (With Keelia Clarkson)

Everyone agrees that dating is more difficult and ever. So how do you find a spouse if you want one? Resident happily married couple Nathan and Keelia Clarkson tell their story to resident single Joseph Holmes and give great tips for all the singles out there on this latest episode.
https://www.forbes.com/health/dating/dating-statistics/#:~:text=Data%20from%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20has%20found%20that%2047%25%20of,survey%20by%20The%20Harris%20Poll.
 
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/09/14/as-u-s-marriage-rate-hovers-at-50-education-gap-in-marital-status-widens
 
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/07/19/why-are-people-not-getting-married-anymore.html#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20marriage%20has,at%20the%20University%20of%20Virginia.
 
https://ifstudies.org/blog/money-is-not-the-main-reason-why-americans-who-desire-marriage-remain-single

Should You Date Someone With Different Beliefs From You?

More people are dating outside their faith today and fewer people are dating outside their politics. Is this a good thing? What should be a deal breaker when it comes to beliefs? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.

Are Married People Happier? (With Dr. Brad Wilcox)

As fewer people are getting married, many people are arguing that single people are happier than married people. But is that true? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson interview sociologist and author Dr. Brad Wilcox on this deeply relevant topic. 

Is "Be Yourself" Good Advice?

Nathan Clarrkson and Joseph Holmes take on one of the most popular pieces of advice today and unpack whether it's actually good advice--and when.