Join me as we delve into the fascinating journey of Dan McClellan, who revolutionized biblical scholarship on TikTok. With over 600k followers, he democratized access to biblical knowledge, showcasing his deep background in Jewish and Bible studies. From his unique mission experiences in Uruguay to his thought-provoking discussions on homosexuality and creation accounts in the Bible, Dan's insights captivate. Born agnostic, his conversion to Mormonism took a more social and emotional route than intellectual. He's an active church member, even as he navigates complex topics. Armed with degrees from BYU and Oxford, his scholarship journey encompassed questioning traditional beliefs about historical accuracy, leading him to prioritize data over dogma. His TikTok journey balances his roles as a church employee and a respected scholar, bridging the gap between academia and the public. He explores intriguing topics like God having a wife and homosexuality in the Bible, backed by meticulous research. Don't miss Dan's upcoming book that promises to dive deeper into these compelling issues. This interview is a stimulating exploration of faith, data-driven analysis, and respectful dialogue. Data Over Dogma: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/data-over-dogma/id1681418502 Dan's Publications: https://exeter.academia.edu/DanielMcClellan Episode Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/mormon-bible-scholar-dan-mcclellan/ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:09:35 Dan’s Mormon story begins 00:35:20 Back to his Mormon story 00:54:00 Community is a fundamental part of religious identity 01:06:00 Mission to Uruguay 01:29:45 Early issues or topics in Bible study 01:49:15 Ancient near eastern studies, 01:54:10 Overview of Bible Historical Criticism 02:22:45 His interest and mindset in undergrad and grad school 02:51:00 BYU and Grad School, future career goals after graduation 02:59:00 Family experiences while he got his degree at Oxford, wife and kid 03:12:10 The historical accident of the King James Bible 03:20:44 Positive and Negative of working for the LDS Church 03:34:00 Becoming a church employee who started a TikTok on Bible scholarship 03:55:50 Top five most improbable 04:21:30 Discussing Dan’s Mormonism and what he teaches 04:32:00 Upcoming book by Dan McClellan ___________________ At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Our Platforms: 🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us: 📧 MormonStories@gmail.com 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 #MormonStories #Mormon #lds