Joe Rogan Hosts 11 Million-Listener Episode With Mormon Scholar, Sparking Latter-day Saint Debate
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 11
Joe Rogan Hosts 11 Million-Listener Episode With Mormon Scholar, Sparking Latter-day Saint Debate
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 11
Summary
Dan McClellan’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast set off days of argument among Latter-day Saints, with some calling it a historic validation and others criticizing his refusal to foreground personal faith.
On the Wednesday episode, McClellan presented the Bible as a historically edited text and said the modern idea of eternal hell emerged after biblical times—views that drew backlash from more literalist Christians.
Rogan, who praised McClellan as deeply knowledgeable, pressed him on how he reconciles scholarship and belief; McClellan said he keeps his faith private, a response some Mormon listeners called a missed evangelizing opportunity.
The reaction has become a wider referendum inside the church over authority and biblical interpretation, as scholars point to recent shifts including broader Sunday school roles for women and openness to non-King James translations.