A Biblical scholar, whose focus is on the linguistics and translations, takes a look at several topics that are frequently discussed -- slavery, abortion, marriage, homosexuality, and more. Although I did find much of what the author explains very fascinating, this is not a book for the casual reader. His work is obviously very well researched, and that's sometimes the issue. His narrative is sometimes bogged down in the minutiae -- how individual words should be more accurately translated from the Hebrew or Greek, for example, I found myself skimming over much of these details. In any case, I found the topic fascinating and learned a great deal.

I honestly cannot speak highly enough about McClellan’s work. I was first introduced to him through TikTok and once I left the app, I really missed hearing what he had to say. I’m so grateful that he has been given a platform to speak about the Bible in this way because he is truly a scholar. I know for myself as a queer Black woman I have not only found his work to be incredibly informative and important but also reaffirming.

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
McClellan offers his thoughts and researched opinions on what the Bible shares. He does not shy away from controversial topics and offers his interpretation for readers to review. The book allows readers to process their thoughts and choose to debate or accept the information shared. As he says in the Conclusion, his own biases are present. Though he quotes many sources, most fall in line to support his ideas with few references to those who offer different opinions. Others will appreciate this approach and do read other reviews for more thoughts.

This was more scholarly than I was expecting. Overall, the book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. The author did list some points to ponder regarding what those who wrote the Bible might have been thinking at the time it was written. It was a bit heavy at least for your average reader looking to just gain some basic insights into the Bible. If someone is looking for a more scholarly read, this might be a good fit for them. It would also be a good option for someone looking for more historical and scientific details on the Bible.

Definitely not for the average reader. Disappointing.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Dan McClellan’s The Bible Says So attempts to tackle one of the most debated and misunderstood texts in history, the Bible, through what he describes as a “data over dogma” approach. The premise of the book promises to provide a clearer, evidence-based understanding of what the Bible does or does not say on a range of socially significant issues, such as homosexuality, abortion, slavery, and more. However, while the book may be enlightening for some, it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

For starters, I wasn’t the target audience for this book. I was expecting a more scholarly, neutral approach, where McClellan would delve deeply into historical and theological analysis. Instead, the book often feels more like a personal diary of someone working through their own confusion about the Bible’s teachings. McClellan’s approach blends personal reflections with his academic background, but this mix creates a tone that seems more like a social media post than a well-researched, scholarly exploration. The style might resonate more with casual readers who engage with religious debates on platforms like Twitter, but for those looking for a more academic or objective treatment of the Bible, this might fall short.

Another issue I had with the book is the heavy skewing of McClellan’s own religious beliefs. The “data over dogma” approach is an interesting idea, but I felt that the author’s personal views still played a significant role in shaping the narrative, making it feel more like a platform for his own opinions rather than an impartial exploration of biblical content. While the book does try to break down complex issues in an accessible manner, the intertwining of personal beliefs with data sometimes muddles the clarity.

I ADORE this book. I learned so much and it was so interesting. It was challenging but also sprinkled throughout were fun endnotes referring to all manner of pop culture to bring the levity. I learned about councils, rhetorical tools, old ways of conceptualizing divinity, and was fascinated the whole way through. If you’re curious about the Bible PICK THIS UP.

As someone who grew up with a Christian background (who no longer practices for personal reasons), this book gives you such a different perspective on religion. I kind of wish this was a book my family would be open-minded to reading, but I highly doubt it. I very much appreciate the historical aspect of this book and also being able to go back and forth and look at everything from a scientific POV. This book made me feel so many kinds of ways, and I wish this book was available when I was much younger. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who is interested in dipping their toes into religion or even to someone who is open-minded to exploring more of the scientific and historical parts of the Bible.

Thank you to SMP's Early Readers for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was slightly more scholarly than I was expecting, although that's on me and not the author, as he's very clear from the Introduction what his approach is (data over dogma, as it were). I found a lot of it really helpful in providing factual context as to our best guesses at what the authors of the Bible were actually thinking in any given passage. I was especially appreciative not only of his reasoning on why some of the talking points for conservatives are wrong, but also in detailing that yes, at the time, the folks who authored the Bible probably did think it was not only okay but recommended to use corporal punishment on children.

I think for me it was slightly too dense, but for the right audience, I think this is a really great resource.

3.5 stars rounded up, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I follow Dan's podcast, Data Over Dogma, so I am already familiar with some of his thoughts on the ways people interpret the Bible. I could hear him talking in my head as I read. :) I hope he plans to narrate this book himself. Dan doesn't approach the Bible as something written long ago and without merit. Instead, he tries to get readers/believers to think about what the authors meant when they wrote it and the time period they lived in. He focuses on translation decisions and how that impacts beliefs. This book is written in an easy to read style.

This book has given me a fresh perspective on how to approach the Bible. I truly enjoyed reading this, as it’s not my usual cup of tea.

I found Dan through my husband who found him on tik tok a. I was very excited to see he had a book coming out. This book was very interesting and matched Dan’s tik tok “style”. He provided a lot of interesting thoughts and historical context.