Joe Rogan’s decision to feature Dan McClellan, a Mormon biblical scholar, on his widely listened-to podcast has sparked a significant reaction within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) community. The episode, which aired Wednesday, marked the first time a practicing Latter-day Saint appeared on Rogan’s platform, which draws approximately 11 million listeners per episode.
McClellan, who hosts the “Data Over Dogma” podcast aimed at debunking misinformation about the Bible, engaged Rogan in a discussion that prioritized historical and scholarly analysis over personal faith. He outlined how the Bible has been edited by various authors over centuries, rather than representing an unaltered divine document, and noted that the modern concept of hell as eternal torment only developed in postbiblical periods. These points elicited mixed responses, with some conservative Christians criticizing McClellan’s perspective.
Within the LDS community, reactions have varied. Some members expressed pride, viewing McClellan’s appearance as historic validation for a faith often questioned in broader American Christianity. A social media post from a conservative Mormon account highlighted McClellan’s potential role in revealing “a larger picture of truth.” Conversely, others felt McClellan missed an opportunity by focusing on scholarly content rather than openly discussing his personal faith before a mass audience.
The choice of Rogan as a platform also drew criticism from some within the more progressive segment of the LDS Church, which McClellan is part of. Rogan’s public endorsements of Donald Trump, history of spreading COVID-19 misinformation, and previous promotion of far-right conspiracy theories, such as those by Alex Jones, raised concerns among certain viewers over the risk of legitimizing controversial viewpoints by association.
Ben Park, former president of the Mormon History Association and a history professor, views McClellan’s participation as reflective of broader transformations within Mormonism. The LDS Church has recently implemented several notable changes, including allowing women to oversee Sunday school classes, encouraging the use of biblical translations beyond the traditional King James Version, and seeing church president Dallin Oaks speak at the Washington National Cathedral—an Episcopal seat—for the first time. Park described these developments as challenging the historically dogmatic, literalist tradition in Mormon biblical interpretation.
Rogan himself has undergone a religious shift in recent years, transitioning from agnosticism to attending a nondenominational evangelical church since 2025. Earlier that year, he hosted Wesley Huff, a conservative Christian apologist whose views contrast sharply with McClellan’s more scholarly and less faith-explicit approach.
During the episode, Rogan asked McClellan how he reconciles his role as a scholar with his identity as a “religious man.” McClellan responded that he prefers to keep his faith private, citing a New Testament passage where Jesus advises praying in secret rather than publicly for show. This answer disappointed some listeners who expected him to more directly affirm his beliefs. One critic on social media described it as a “missed opportunity” to spread the Gospel more boldly.
Rogan expressed respect for McClellan’s approach, emphasizing his own discomfort with performative displays of religiosity and proselytizing. He noted his preference for sincerity over public displays that serve as “a shield of virtue.”
The episode has ignited a conversation within the LDS community about faith, scholarship, and engagement with broader public discourse, highlighting ongoing debates about identity and interpretation within the church.