The Overthinkers

How do you raise your kids such that they stay in your faith? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss with celebrated author and speaker Sally Clarkson--who raised four children who all stayed Christian, including Nathan--what she did and what other religious parents can do.

References and resources

The rise of the nones: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/the-nones-have-hit-a-ceiling

People who stay in vs leave their childhood faith: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/15/why-do-some-americans-leave-their-religion-while-others-stay/

Majority of kids check out of their faith by 8th and 10th grades: https://ifstudies.org/blog/secularization-begins-at-home

Authoritative parenting vs authoritarian and permissive: https://ifstudies.org/blog/parenting-is-the-key-to-adolescent-mental-health

Fathers especially mattering for faith transmission: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/us/book-explores-ways-faith-is-kept-or-lost-over-generations.html?_r=0

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson. nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Sally Clarkson: sallyclarkson.com

One of the biggest reasons people aren't getting married is that they can't find the right person. But how do you find the right person? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with sociologist and researcher Dr. Wendy Wang.

References and resources:

Marriage rates dropping: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/america-marriage-decline/681518/

Is having a boyfriend embarassing? https://www.vogue.com/article/is-having-a-boyfriend-embarrassing-now

Majority want to marry but can’t find the right person: https://ifstudies.org/blog/why-americans-arent-getting-married-and-having-kids-and-how-to-fix-that

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Wendy Wang: https://ifstudies.org/about-us/wendy-wang

Why are romance novels so popular? Particularly with women? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes ask actress and author Keelia Clarkson why they resonate, ahead of her own upcoming romance novel "Chapter One Again". 

Romance movie’s popularity with women

https://oxfordre.com/literature/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.001.0001/acrefore-9780190201098-e-415

https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2025/10/romance-fiction-genre-open-elite-popularity/684445/

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=5002#m67973

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Keelia Clarkson: keelia.me
Chapter One Again (Avila Falls Series): https://www.amazon.com/dp/151401372X

Is thinking we're good people or inherently sinful better for us? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss Nathan's new book "I'm the Worst: How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults".

Sin - The Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNOZ7ocLD74

Original Sin - BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/originalsin_1.shtml

Doctrine of Sin - Roman Catholic Cathecism: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_one/article_8/ii_the_definition_of_sin.html

Doctrine of Sin - Mockingbird: https://mbird.com/theology/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-lost-doctrine-of-sin/

Definition of sin - Desiring God: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/what-is-sin-the-essence-and-root-of-all-sinning

Richard Dawkins thinks the doctrine of sin is “hideous”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6Lar8Qp0E

Albert Ellis critiquing the doctrine of sin: https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0%2C33009%2C865989-2%2C00.html

Authoritative parenting vs authoritarian and permissive: https://ifstudies.org/blog/parenting-is-the-key-to-adolescent-mental-health

https://ifstudies.org/blog/do-your-political-beliefs-affect-your-parenting-

Serial killers are unmade, not made: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/what-makes-a-serial-killer

Most aggressive people are males at the age of two: https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/terrible-twos-who-stay-terrible/

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Why is it important for all of us--but particularly Christians--to forgive others? And how do we do it without allowing evil to triumph? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss with author and educator Yana Jenay Conner, unpacking lessons from her book: Living Beyond Offense: Doing the Hard Work of Forgiveness God’s Way.

References and resources

Forgiveness definitions: 

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

https://www.apa.org/topics/forgiveness

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Yana Jenay Conner: https://www.yanajenay.com/