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 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

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? 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/

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

Many people feel like they have to choose between science and faith. But do they really? What is the history of science and faith, and when did this supposed conflict start? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome author and scholar Dr. Spencer Klavan to discuss this topic and Klavan's new book on the subject "Light of the Mind, Light of the World. Further Resources:

https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion-2/#:~:text=Some%2073%25%20of%20adults%20who,religion%20are%20often%20in%20conflict.

https://www.samharris.org/blog/science-must-destroy-religion https://scienceforthechurch.org/2020/11/10/a-conversation-with-john-lennox/ Blesses Summa Theologica God's Undertaker Netflix's The Three-Body Problem Curses The Theory of Everything Freud's Last Session MIxed Bless/Curse Dark Matter

Who is therapy for? Is it only people with diagnosed mental illness? Or can anyone benefit? We discuss with mental health advocate Alyssa Plock. Data and references:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2021/02/04/47-of-americans-believe-seeking-therapy-is-a-sign-of-weakness/

https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/75-of-americans-feel-health-care-system-handles-mental-health-worse-than-physical-poll-finds

https://kindbridge.com/mental-health/why-do-people-avoid-therapy/

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/psychotherapy-effective

Blesses: Allender Center Podcast

The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast

The Sixth Sense Ordinary People

Curses: Shrinking Split Moon Knight Extremes

Why do most people work a 9-5? And should we get rid of it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss in the latest episode of The Overthinkers.

Further reading:

History and the origin of the 9-5. https://hbr.org/2021/07/breaking-free-from-a-9-to-5-culture

Arguments against 9-5: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/07/25/working-9-to-5-is-an-antiquated-relic-from-the-past-and-should-be-stopped-right-now/

Remote workers aren’t as productive: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-01-04/2024-year-employers-clamp-down-on-remote-work-not-so-fast#:~:text=It's%20true%20that%20widespread%20studies,be%20factors%20in%20the%20decline

Benefits of a 9-5: https://medium.com/@lester03g/5-reasons-why-its-good-to-work-9-5-d4c41df9a3ee#:~:text=Working%209%E2%80%935%20builds%20are,between%20work%20and%20personal%20life.