The Overthinkers

If there's one thing everyone in America seems to agree on its that they don't like Evangelicals. But why? And is that dislike valid. Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson interview journalist and author Bonnie Kristian about her new book "In Defense of Evangelicalism"

References and Resources
David Bebbington’s four-part definition of evangelicalism — conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucicentrism:
“Can Evangelicalism Be Defined?” — Crossway

Pew Research Center’s explanation of how it classifies Americans into the evangelical, mainline, and historically Black Protestant traditions:
“Religious Identity in the United States” — Pew Research Center

Pew’s 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study — evangelicals declined from 26.3% of Americans in 2007 to 23.1% in 2023–24; mainline Protestants from 18.1% to 11.5%; historically Black Protestants from 6.9% to 5.4%. Evangelicals simultaneously increased from 51% to 58% of all Protestants:
2023–24 Religious Landscape Study — Pew Research Center

Catholics declined from 24% of U.S. adults in 2007 to 19% in the 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study:
“Religious Identity in the United States” — Pew Research Center

Ryan Burge’s General Social Survey analysis of long-term changes in American religious affiliation—the analysis referenced in Joseph Holmes’s Sarah’s Oil review:
“Have We Reached Peak None?” — Ryan Burge, Graphs About Religion

Joseph Holmes’s earlier discussion of evangelical, mainline, Catholic, and Black Protestant traditions and their changing cultural influence:
“‘Sarah’s Oil’ Serves Up A Christian Message Aimed At Tackling Racism” — Religion Unplugged

Michael Luo on Christianity, race, and white supremacy:
“American Christianity’s White-Supremacy Problem” — The New Yorker

Jennifer Rubin’s argument that declining white evangelical cultural power has contributed to anti-democratic politics:
“Why Are White Evangelicals Embracing an Anti-Democratic Movement? Because They’re Panicking.” — The Washington Post

Mark Noll’s The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind:
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind — Eerdmans

Aaron Renn on the absence of evangelicals from culture-shaping elite institutions:
“The Problem with the Evangelical Elite” — First Things

Pew on belief in the God described in the Bible — 91% of evangelicals, 86% of historically Black Protestants, and roughly two-thirds of Catholics and mainline Protestants:
“Americans’ Spiritual Beliefs” — Pew Research Center

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes
Bonnie Kristian:bonniekristian.substack.com

Why do people fall for online conspiracy theories? Why does everyone speak with authority today as if they're an expert? Why do they dismiss real experts? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk to media psychology expert Dr. Dannagal Young.

References and resources

America and experts concerned about conspiracy theories and blame the internet: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9299316/

Social media makes us less informed; traditional news media makes us more informed: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19331681.2021.1969611

TikTok conspiracy theories in the Lindsy Clancey trial: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/tiktokers-shown-patrick-clancys-60-174255826.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI_8FGXdItco2yodQtPf4YpBGAV_UHql3N1HCBleD90A1Rn4hO18ttc6zpkJ6b5fMOHN6ZpxacT2n7goU8Oeng7IF56MDsdQrlLcsEs5K6Q-jbhchn8xJ5u5pvJ336u-rWR9c5p9E3AybnMVcjLbKImKIuByG5lcf3oKGPBE8JHf

  Belief in conspiracy theories have not increased over time: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9299316/

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes
Dr. Dannagal Young: udel.edu/faculty-staff/experts/dannagal-young/

Experts say family estrangement is on the rise, even as abuse is not. But why? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author Noelle Mering the findings of her book "No Contact: How a Seductive Ideology Broke Families and Friendships and How We Can Repair Them"

References and resources

Family estrangement on the rise: 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/24/family-estrangement-children-parents-beckhams

Rates of abuse dropping: https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20251120/incidence-of-child-maltreatment-declined-overall-in-us-from-2012-to-2023

Why do families get estranged? https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/why-parents-and-kids-get-estranged/617612/

Do we need more boundaries? https://www.ted.com/podcasts/how-to-be-a-better-human/set-boundaries-and-find-peace-w-nedra-glover-tawwab-transcript

Is calling family estrangement a trend offensive? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/phil-lane-msw-lcsw

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes
Noelle Mering: noellemering.com

From Grimms fairy tales to 1984 to the Bible itself, humanity has always told dark stories. But why? What purpose do they serve? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with film critic, author, and co-host of the "Filmspotting" podcast Josh Larsen.

Websites

The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes
Josh Larsen: larsenonfilm.com

Why do we love art so much? What purpose does art serve for humans? Or is art useless and maybe that's a good thing? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk to author Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez about her new book "Art is How God Loves Us" on The Overthinkers. 

References and resources

Does art have health benefits? https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content

Can art express things words can’t? https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/langer/

Is art useless? https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/526851-we-can-forgive-a-man-for-making-a-useful-thing

Is art for therapy? https://www.alaindebotton.com/art/

Website

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