Data Over Dogma

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

You Starve ... Glory Be To God?

In three days, the earth opens up and swallows a household whole, fire consumes 250 men, and a plague takes 14,700 more — and then the very next chapter expects us to be

Aug 31
1 h 04 min

Rod Almighty!

Get your mind out of the gutter — this week it's Aaron's rod, the staff that sprouted buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds overnight to settle once and for all who was in cha

Aug 24
59 min

The Grandfather of the Hebrew Bible (and What Is Zion?)

In 1929, a farmer in French-occupied Syria hit a rock with his plow and accidentally uncovered the lost city of Ugarit — and with it, a library of Bronze Age tablets that

Aug 17
1 h 02 min

66 Books, 40 Authors, Zero Contradictions?

You've seen the claim: 66 books, 40 authors, 1,500 years, three continents, three languages — and not one contradiction. This week we take that apologetic apart piece b

Aug 10
1 h 03 min

No Originals, No Mercy

There isn't a single surviving original manuscript for any book of the Bible, so how do scholars decide what the earliest recoverable text actually said? This week, it's

Aug 3
1 h 09 min

Don't be a jerk...off?

This week it's a "What's That?" double feature! First, we take on the Great Commission. Does Matthew 28 really command every believer to accost strangers on airplanes an

Jul 27
1 h 00 min

A Trickster God and the Worst Wedding Ever

This week, Christian nationalist Joel Webbin says the quiet part out loud: lie to voters about your theocratic goals until you've got the power to enact them. It's grotes

Jul 20
59 min

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding (and Other Conversation-Enders)

This week we're taking on the thought-stopping cliché to end all thought-stopping clichés: "trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding." Is "reading with t

Jul 13
1 h 03 min

Faith vs. Works vs. Chaos Monsters

This week we crack open the Epistle of James — a letter that may claim to come from none other than James the brother of Jesus — and wade into one of Christianity's oldes

Jul 6
1 h 06 min

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Give or Take)

This week the Dans try to count to twelve — and find that the number matters a lot more than the names. We dig into the twelve tribes of Israel: how Levi quietly drops ou

Jun 29
59 min

Moloch, Mormons, and Mike Lee

Senator Mike Lee keeps accusing his opponents of sacrificing children to Moloch, so this week we ask who — or what — Moloch actually was, why abortion and child sacrifice

Jun 22
1 h 00 min

Sins of the (Grand)father

The sins of the fathers! It's a phrase you've heard a thousand times, but did you know it comes straight from the Bible? This week it's Bible versus Bible, and the topic

Jun 15
1 h 03 min

Inside purity culture and Christian nationalism with Monte Mader

What happens when you're raised to be a militant Christian nationalist Supreme Court justice, but you decide to actually study church history instead? This week, we are

Jun 8
1 h 03 min

Let's Get Weird!

Most parents think their kids are pretty great. That makes sense. But if your son is the messianic savior of the world, the bragging rights are kind of through the roof.

Jun 1
1 h 07 min

C. S. Lewis and the Bible with Leslie Baynes

Beloved novelist Clive Staples Lewis (Jack to his friends)(?) went through an atheist phase in his life. But that didn't last, and when he came back to Christianity, he c

May 25
1 h 11 min

The Queen of Heaven?

Just when you think you have biblical theology figured out, they throw you a curveball! In this case, the curve in question is the character explicitly referred to in Jer

May 18
58 min

Even Heretics Deserve Rituals! With Jeremy Steele

For as long as there have been humans, there have been rituals. Every religion and spiritual practice has developed its own set of practices and rites, and attached sacre

May 11
58 min

America (Almost Never) Reads the Bible

Brace yourself, because your favorite Bible scholarship show is going to talk politics. It's not that we're veering out of our lane, though. Unfortunately, the politics h

May 4
1 h 04 min

Is the KJV Crap?

This week we're taking something beloved and ruining it! Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but we're definitely going to ruffle some feathers. The King James Ver

Apr 27
1 h 02 min

Mysterious Texts

The world of ancient holy texts is shrouded in mystery. Where did texts come from? How were they transmitted? Were they altered, and if so, by whom? First this week, we

Apr 20
57 min

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve enjoyed listening to Data Over Dogma for its deep dive into biblical scholarship and for bringing a well-informed, critical lens to scriptural interpretations. Hosts Daniel McClellan, a Bible scholar, and Dan Beecher, an atheist podcaster, provide engaging insights that challenge traditional readings and make complex topics more accessible to listeners. Their segments exploring biblical language, history, and context are particularly valuable for those wanting a non-traditional but rigorous approach to understanding scripture. However, I feel that the podcast often brings a pronounced political perspective that could detract from its appeal to those seeking a more neutral take on theology. This bias might sometimes overshadow the educational content, which is otherwise top-notch. Overall, I recommend it for listeners who appreciate a mix of scholarship and modern critique, though it may not resonate with those looking for a fully apolitical discussion of religious topics.

FitnessPro6520 · Nov 2024

This podcast makes it so easy to understand the book I’ve grown up with. More than any preacher I’ve listened to, and he said Bible, I’ve read, and easier and less overwhelming than searching through article after article online. thanks guys for doing this!! My only gripe is that I wish there were more because now I’ve binged them all and I’m sad. 😂

Hayungski · Sep 2024

Love listening to their podcast. I learn something new every time I listen. It’s oftentimes the last thing I listen to at night when I can concentrate on what’s being discussed.

Uttzey · Sep 2024

I don’t always think these guys are spot on, but it’s still a really good podcast. I like that both guys are able to not be offended by each other’s ideology and perspective. And they're able to laugh and joke within the topics discussed, but still be serious about discussing theology as well. Explaining the history of how ideas are texts evolved and came to be very seriously, but also being able to be lighthearted within the podcast is nice

Zomfibame · Aug 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.