The Bible Says So Audiobook By Dan McClellan cover art

The Bible Says So

What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues

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The Bible Says So

By: Dan McClellan
Narrated by: Dan McClellan
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Bible scholar and popular TikToker Dan McClellan confronts misconceptions about the Bible. This program is read by the author.

The Bible is the world’s most influential book, but do we really know what it says? Every day across social media and in homes, businesses, and public spaces, people try to cut debate short by claiming that "the Bible says so!" However, they commonly disagree about what it actually does and doesn't say, particularly when it comes to socially significant issues. For instance, does the Bible say we should be on the lookout for an antichrist associated with the number 666? Does it say women shouldn’t wear revealing clothing? Does it say it’s okay to hit your kids?

In The Bible Say So, Dan McClellan leverages his popular "data over dogma" approach, and his years of experience in the academy and on social media, to lay out in clear and accessible ways what the data indicate the Bible does and doesn't say about issues ranging from homosexuality, abortion, and slavery to monotheism, inspiration, and even God's wife. Smart, accessible, and informative, The Bible Says So is an invaluable resource for our fractious times.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press Essentials.

©2025 Dan McClellan (P)2025 Macmillan Audio Bible Study Bibles & Bible Study Christianity Commentaries Study Guides

Critic reviews

"With faith-based skepticism and a hint of irreverence... The work will best serve readers hoping to resolve specific issues with how the Bible is used."—Library Journal

"Smart and historically grounded... Combining fine-grained textual analysis with enlightening historical context, this is a valuable resource."—Publishers Weekly

"This book empowers readers to engage with the Bible without fear of questioning. For anyone seeking to understand the Bible beyond literal and inerrant interpretations, Dan's work is an essential guide to finding a more compassionate and authentic connection with scripture…a much-needed resource for the deconstructing Christian."—Rev Karla Kamstra, author of Deconstructing: Leaving Church, Finding Faith
Scholarly Insights • Accessible Explanations • Soothing Voice • Historical Context • Clear Articulation
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I loved it. I was very good and extremely informative. It is nice to get a neutral view point on the Bible and the current scholarship thereon.

informational

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Buy this book if you want the essential knowledge of what is falsely taught in mainstream Christian settings. See beyond the clutter. Dr. McClellan is professional and hits the important topics as always.

The essentials

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Dan did an excellent job of explaining the data in a way that is easy to understand and not overly scholarly or dense. I’ve already recommended the book to several friends and family members and cannot recommend it to you enough. You won’t be disappointed.

Data over dogma

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Great book to understand and learn about popular or controversial topics referenced in the Bible by analyzing the actual words used in the Bible regarding those topics and diving into their meaning from original language usage through translations or edits to what we read today. As Dan puts it, "data over dogma". Such a refreshing approach to truly studying the Bible!

Understanding the words used in the Bible, their translations, context, and intentions

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Totally opened my mind. Thanks Dan! This will help me make a more informed and less biased study.

So much I didn’t know I didn’t know.

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I love the presentation of the historical considerations in a way that everyday people could understand

Amazing information

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Rigorously compassionate. Dan's mission to spread the good word doesn't stop here. He is building a framework for pastors/scholars/readers everywhere. This is the future of Bible revisionism. A new Bible is long over due. Perhaps I will get to see a new canon evolve in my lifetime that emphasizes love and compassion above all else followed by other teachings that do not conflict with love or compassion. Dan is one of the greatest public servants in our generation. ty

Good pronunciation makes it easy to listen at 2x

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Such an informative book, so glad Dan did the audiobook himself. Will have to buy this in physical copy, too. There is just so much information.

Book of the year

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Great listen. It’s packed with a ton of information. Very enlightening for both religious and non-religious folk alike. My favorite part though was in Chapter 8 when Dan makes a Tim Robinson/I Think You Should Leave reference (it had me very hyped). Amazing work, Dan👏🏻

I Think You Should Leave

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This book tricked me (in a good way). I’d seen enough of Dan McClellan’s YouTube videos to know that he doesn’t mess around when it comes to scrutinizing ancient texts, but the brightly-colored cover and whimsical font made me expect a somewhat dumbed-down summary of Bible controversies. Not so! The author wades boldly into the weeds of textual criticism, bolstering his analysis of scripture with rigorous research and careful logic. There are chapters that you’d expect in a book like this (Biblical inspiration, homosexuality, slavery, abortion, hell, women’s rights, the divinity of Jesus), but there are also topics that I wouldn’t have predicted and thoroughly enjoyed (God’s body, God’s wife, divine deception, polytheism in the Old Testament, modest clothing, the mark of the beast, etc). McClellan’s challenges to Christian fundamentalism are incisive, and his nuanced argumentation was right up my alley.

That said, the book is consistently inviting. The author keeps things conversational, cracking jokes and referencing many TikTok duels with over-zealous and under-informed Christian apologists. Occasionally, his rhetoric turns sharp, especially when denouncing the religious oppression of vulnerable people, but overall the book’s tone is gracious. The short chapters make for an engaging listen. In an era when the Bible is increasingly wielded as a club to silence marginalized groups, McClellan’s “data over dogma” approach is both a breath of fresh air and an urgent rallying cry.

A breath of fresh air and an urgent rallying cry

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