Dan McClellen Explains Why He Left BYU & Talks About His New Podcast!

[@tristarobichaud9142]

This is fantastic! I was an immediate fan of Dan's from the first TikTok I came across, even as a fairly conservative Catholic. Without writing a novel here, I'll say that his content has always sent me on very fruitful explorations of things I'd *thought* I knew the answer for, or that I'd find an easy response to, and I'm super grateful for that. I've been waiting for him to be comfortable sharing a more personal perspective for a while, and this is just the perfect channel for it. Loved this! ☺️

[@kp6553]

Dan is such an inspiration to those of us who believe in the expansive, truth-seeking spirit of Mormonism. He embodies the best elements of what it means to be a Latter-day Saint.

[@ethanf.237]

Couldn't agree more

[@Zeett09]

Nice interview. My only criticism is I would have liked another hour. 👍

[@noelhausler2911]

I think the LDS church will revise its understanding of the Book of Abraham. I notice scholars like Royal Skousen and Terryl Givens admit Smiths' interpretations of the facsimiles are wrong and take a a catalyst theory that the writing was given by inspiration not a translation. A similar exists for the Bible especially the Old Testament when archaeologists like Israel Finkelstein in The Bible Unearthed questions the historicity of the exodus and conquest.

[@jasonk3171]

😊

[@scottvance74]

@@noelhausler2911 They may go for a non-literal approach to the Book of Abraham at some point, but I don't know how they will ever be able to transition to a non-literal approach to the Book of Mormon. It seems pretty fundamental (aka Keystone) even though it has deep historical issues (curse of dark skin, literal tower of babel, etc).

[@moontrack4625]

Dan is such a breath of fresh air. Would luv to meet him someday. Great interview.

[@SimonDaumMusic]

Love Dans work, he adresses excactly all the issues I had and have with the OT and that from a good, scientific foundation, and it solves a lot of issues for me personally, and funny enough confirms a lot of things I believe to be right and true, so, very important work ..

[@EricPaulRogers]

Thanks!

[@ManassaLaCoa]

I have benefited greatly from Dan's scholarship. I have never and would love hear how it is that he with all this knowledge of the history of Judaism & Christianity maintains his conviction in not only Christianity, but Mormonism.

[@KJDogluv]

My question too

[@IJN-33]

I love Dan's work. I admire the data over dogma approach, but I would love to understand how he reconciles his academics with faith, especially in areas that might seem challenging to beliefs.

[@urloony]

I wouldn't presume to speak for Dan, but I imagine his response might be along the lines of textual negotiation. As a Latter-Day Saint myself, I am well aware of the criticisms. However, there is equal criticism for the claims of other faiths. Any statement that begins with "but the Bible says...", what comes next is what you have negotiated with the text according to your particular faith and is typically dogmatic. Hence data>dogma. However, personal faith isn't based entirely on data. The most important part of our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is based on faith not data.

[@3thingsfishing427]

​@@urloonythe most important part of your faith is getting to the "celestial kingdom" (shot out to Emmanuel Swedenborg), becoming a god, and having eternal sex in "heaven". I think that's what you meant to say.

[@urloony]

@@3thingsfishing427 nice! That sounds awesome

[@ggrace1133]

@@3thingsfishing427there’s at least one in every crowd…

[@dawidvanstraaten]

Faith is any belief held without rational grounds for holding that belief. So, it's easy to reconcile how people hold faith even when it goes against any good rationale.

[@kentthalman4459]

Dan's posts were always fascinating

[@reverendatheist7026]

I’d love to see Dan turn his scholarship on the CES Letter.

[@carlosvejar3938]

Mr. McClellan is very very knowledgeable, Impressively so. I just found his channel 4 days ago. Very informative

[@jaredhuff7486]

The crossover I've been waiting for

[@scottballard6176]

Holy moly- great podcast. I did miss the fit for this show.

[@rkn2800]

Love Dan. Smart analysis. Thanks.

[@markchristiansen9611]

thank you for doing this interview. I was happy to learn more about Dan.

[@ultronversee]

I've heard a lot about this guy, I'm not on tiktok but I've seen his stuff reposted on twitter, he's seems very educated and I appreciated him responding to common criticisms of scripture

[@manbearpig3507]

so glad glad I came across this answered a lot of the kinda questions I would wanna ask Dan over a few beers

[@TheVariableDesign]

Have followed Dan for a while now, always very interesting and insightful! I’m happy to help create animations and motion graphics or support his podcasting efforts in any way I can :)

[@gmbai]

I'm only half way through this but I served my mission in Dallas TX from 06-08 so I'm familiar with these areas!

[@jameshasapoint7628]

Dan McClellan, I am a Latter-day Saint, I truly believe and love the narrative, *and* I *LOVE* what you're doing. I believe that knowing what academic studies have to say help us understand what we place our faith in, how better to do so, and enable us better to find God in our lives. And if the knowledge you bring eliminates one's faith, we must each walk the paths we're on. So far, you help me recalibrate and deepen my understanding. Since I converse with The Lord in prayer, I am more than happy to have you help me sort out the details of documented devotion down on earth. ;-)

[@susanbright8735]

I think most LDS members don't really study and understand the scriptures until their heart seeks to know the truth of all things.

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

Bible for Normal People; great shout out and a podcast I’ve enjoyed for years. Great interview!

[@QuinnPrice]

Wow, Dan did a stint as a Mormon? Very cool. I too left that spiritual community 15 years ago. Love Dan's work.

[@alisatterwhite]

He IS an active member.

[@ClintThomsen]

@@alisatterwhiteLOL

[@KJDogluv]

He’s still a Mormon

[@jeremims9044]

Leaving byu does not equate to leaving the community

[@TheBackyardProfessor]

A new podcast?! Hot dang! I would enjoy doing some deep dives with Dan as well. Lets host and cohost him Steve... I have always found Dan intelligent and likeable.

[@MormonBookReviews]

Let's do it!

[@TheBackyardProfessor]

@@MormonBookReviews Agreed. And SOON, as he is gonna get busy - lol....and rightly so. I love his biblical insights!

[@jordanperkey8103]

Update: the Papadeaux is still at Frankford and the tollway; took my Mom there. I know that was a very important detail to everyone. 😂 love Dan's work and story

[@xaviera9994]

Brilliant interview. Love Dan's work. He also seems like such a nice guy.

[@lisareed5669]

Love "all right, let's see it."

[@jamesneal1129]

Darn...I knew I liked him. Charleston and now Beckley WV here

[@h0m3land]

Does Dan ever break down the academic view of Mormonism? Would love to hear the academic view of a magical hat and what The Mormon church appropriated in its creation.

[@clinchleatherwood1012]

I would like to hear the same. My question is how can someone with his knowledge about the bible still have faith in it? Especially the Book of Mormon.

[@lizkt]

​@@clinchleatherwood1012maybe because he can be LDS with all his knowledge, it is you who needs to question your understanding of the facts of Mormonism

[@DBPCINC]

It is probably his spiritual experiences. Regardless of what you believe based on a text, what has been your experience in your real life with God?

[@tim57243]

How can the books of Machabees be worth reading as claimed at 3:39? It seems to be about armies fighting and killing thousands of people. Can someone point at something interesting it says?

[@noelhausler2911]

When are you going to interview Bart Ehrman. While I first abandoned my belief in Mormonism and then somewhat in Christianity his videos and books has reignited my interest in the Bible.

[@davidjanbaz7728]

You should watch the Ehrman vs Licona debate then!

[@Sayheybrother8]

Haha! Growing up in a very conservative Mormon home my mother wouldn’t let us wear black t shirts. Even with logos

[@AtamaNKrasno]

So the question is - were you able to find those missionaries now?!

[@lisareed5669]

Lol. OMG. I totally relate to Plano/Dallas. Glad you survived.

[@lisareed5669]

Side note for Dan ... my friend ran an informal Hebrew study group at her home, loosely connected by individuals we knew at Perkins. The group involved semi-rigorous study. And wine. One evening during study ... a knock came upon the door ... Mormons. Two young men and one young woman, as I remember. We didn't overtly proselytize them. They didn't stay long, but neither did they run away.

[@dinocollins720]

Thanks for another fantastic video

[@Pokephantom]

That end of the episode reveal!

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

Dan could easily fill the empty place left by the passing of Michael Heiser.

[@davidjanbaz7728]

He's a pathetic replacement as Heiser's videos have already debunked Dan's new videos !

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

@@davidjanbaz7728 Sorry, janbaz, since you are not a scholar and so not fit to judge.

[@s.a.6082]

Except Hieser was a Christian

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

@@s.a.6082 Heiser was a very talented scholar whose lectures were very insightful. Only another biblical scholar can properly estimate the equivalency of McClellan and Heiser. I understand these guys. You clearly do not.

[@davidjanbaz7728]

Steve you didn't ask Dan if he believed like His mentor's 2021 Book that states God's BIG PHYSICAL MEMBER fills the temple in Isaiah 6:1 her interpretation of" His robe" Maybe this is how Jehovah got Mary pregnant: what do you think?

[@boboak9168]

@@ChristianRescue the book is called “God: An Anatomy”

[@davidjanbaz7728]

@@ChristianRescue A MORMON would believe God literally impregnated Mary as he has a literal physical body: remember Their Jehovah is who Jesus was before his incarnation and Heavenly Father has a physical body just like Jesus with all the literal physical parts. Even though the Bible says the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and the Power of the Most High will overshadowed Mary : its not like a literal human pregnancy. They think Elohim and Jehovah are different gods but in fact are the Same God as Genesis 2:4 states.

[@Leavemealonenowplz]

Dan has a wife! New lore just dropped😂

[@halffeelee]

that's funny how he mentioned not having good experiences on twitter. he blocked me on twitter.

[@123mneil]

I did not vote trump. I don't particularly like your takes. They seem very politically motivated from my perspective. I just want to point out that in one sentence you say you are doing something right because you get criticism from everyone and then in the next sentence you say most of your criticism is from conservatives. I guess only conservative are wrong and the data leads you to the truth, therefore you must be right and I must be a conspiracy theorist. 😜 It would be interesting for you to have a conversation with some of your critics. Have you ever done that? If you are interested let me know. I could set something up. Marti Where Will You Go Podcast P.S. I don't think you are dangerous. I think you are biased.

[@nathanbigler]

Lol, are you a Hebrew speaking Bible scholar? If not, your perspective won't be interesting at all

[@davidjanbaz7728]

@@nathanbigler Dr.Michael S.Heiser was and has already debunked Dan's new videos : even from the dead Heiser is killing Dan's pathetic videos.

[@nathanbigler]

@@davidjanbaz7728 I don't care very much about the Bible. I find it outdated and useless. But Dan knows much more about it than I do.

[@madelinedalziel4304]

He uses hard facts which sometimes contradict with stuff on the left and more often contradict stuff on the right. Unfortunately the right trends to be more into "alternative facts," so this makes sense. But the fact that he can correct people on the left as well demonstrates that he doesn't just subscribe to what one side is saying. He uses the data to decide on each case.

[@ClintThomsen]

I know Dan better from his condescending opener on social “Hi, linguist here” than “let’s see it” or whatever that was.

[@SiempreFlor]

LDS Church don’t agree with homosexuality ,abortion or others sins they respect the Bible 1 Corin: 6: 9,10 even they do have a different doctrine.

[@alisatterwhite]

Right. But he’s strictly dissecting what the Bible says. Not what modern revelation teaches us. We believe in ongoing and prophetic revelation.

[@DasWortwurdeFleisch]

17:15 aha the bad boy. Explains a lot also why he has a lofty arrogant attitude.

[@acetrades1524]

That was why he joined the church, because he had a "feeling"? It wasn't because there was evidence for the claims, it was a case of a feeling? Wow. What is going to happen if he gets a case of the tingles at a rock concert?

[@larryfrakous1332]

Lame take

[@jacobsamuelson3181]

The only rock concert LDS are allowed to go to is to see Boston when they sing More than a Feeling.

[@Kapayapaanman]

If you cared to listen beyond your bias, it’s was more than just a tingle. His whole life course was changing.

[@careyfoushee]

Recognizing that the root of faith isn't hard core knowledge is super healthy. It's gives one a good measure of humility.

[@davidjanbaz7728]

@@careyfoushee you R right fantasy books are healthy to read!

[@westonwoodbury3011]

He came off like a authoritarian elitist really early on. Using Trump as a cudgel, everyone that disagrees with me is a racist etc. Get some better arguments it’s old boring and eye rolling.!When he says I’m right in the middle making everyone mad! In other words He’s a progressive with a very high opinion of himself. Get some better tactics if you want to reach people and step outside your echo chamber.

[@Rage_Harder_Then_Relax]

Maybe you should take your own advice but there are hypocrites everywhere who pretend they are smarter than they really are. Thanks for the confirmation.

[@ValentinoMartinoRex]

Do you even believe half of what you just said, or are you projecting the anger you feel over your own hypocrisy? I’m not sure you entirely articulated the point you were trying to make, because you seem to over generalize a person and then don’t truly complete some of your own statements.

[@dalex60]

Dan McClellan’s new podcast actually stars his overinflated ego!!!