A viral clip from a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience features the host claiming belief in the resurrection of Christ makes more sense than belief in the big bang theory. 

During a conversation with author Cody Tucker, Joe Rogan cited ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, who said, “Give us one free miracle and we’ll explain the rest” — a reference to the Big Bang.

“It’s funny because people will be incredulous about the resurrection of Jesus Christ but yet they’re convinced that the entire universe was smaller than the head of a pin and—for no reason that anybody has adequately explained to me makes sense—instantaneously became everything,” he said. “Uh, I’m sticking with Jesus on that one. Jesus makes more sense.” 

Rogan, who has never identified as a Christian, has generally remained agnostic, while at times expressing openness to religious ideas. Rogan has frequently cited psychedelic experiences, such as taking DMT, for helping shape his spiritual outlook. 

But this latest admission—that the resurrection is more likely than the Big Bang, which is the prevailing scientific model for the universe’s origin, might trace back to a conversation Rogan hosted with actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson. 

When Rogan asked Gibson about his thoughts on evolution during a Jan. 9 appearance, he said, “I don’t really go for it. … I think I was created.”

Later, Rogan pushed back, asking, “Do you believe that evolution exists in animals? Do you think there’s some sort of natural selection process or do you think that it is all intelligent design?”

“Well, I think everything was created, right?” Gibson replied. “And maybe things do move on and adapt and change through time, but I think that that’s a function of an intelligence also.” 

“I can’t intellectually tell you why I don’t believe in evolution, but I just don’t,” he added. “It’s just a feeling.” 

Amid pushback, Gibson claimed humans were created by God “not that long ago — about 8,000 years ago” and expressed skepticism about carbon dating.

Rogan’s usual tactics, debating experts in a given field, often using Google to fact-check in real time, didn’t work on Gibson. 

Rather, Gibson, in his unassuming, carefree way, pleasantly shrugged off all of Rogan’s claims. He didn’t try to mount an intellectual defense, nor did he attempt to counter argue with data and figures. Instead, he remained firm in his conviction that humans were created by God. And by doing so, he left Rogan without an effective defense. 

If anything, Gibson likely gave Rogan the impression that debating evolution — fundamentally at odds with his religious beliefs — simply doesn't interest him. Therefore, he wouldn’t allow himself to get tangled into a debate. 

Now that Rogan is outwardly claiming that it’s more sensible to believe in the resurrection of Christ than in the Big Bang, one wonders if it may have been his conversation with Gibson that moved him closer to embracing Christianity. Or perhaps, Rogan may have been impressed by the ease and confidence the filmmaker exhibited. 

Even if the dialogue with Gibson didn’t directly move Rogan to his current position, it represented a rare instance where the broadcaster’s preconceived notions crashed headfirst into someone whose faith is rock-solid and immovable.