On a recent episode of his influential podcast, Joe Rogan, known for his wide-ranging conversations and willingness to tackle controversial topics, turned his attention to the subject of religion—and, more specifically, Christianity. In a candid discussion with Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin, hosts of the "Triggernometry" podcast, Rogan opened up about his personal experiences with faith, the value he sees in religious traditions, and why he believes dismissing religion as mere "fairy tales" misses something essential about human history and culture.
Rogan, whose podcast regularly tops charts and reaches millions of listeners, did not shy away from expressing his genuine appreciation for attending church. "I do too. It's a bunch of people that are going to try to make their lives better," he said, reflecting on the motivations he sees in fellow churchgoers. "They're trying to be a better person, and they're trying to — I mean for me at least, the place that I go to — they, you know, they read and analyze passages in the Bible. I'm really interested in what these people were trying to say because I don't think it's nothing." According to Fox News, Rogan emphasized that the act of gathering to reflect on sacred texts is not an empty ritual, but a search for meaning that spans generations.
The conversation quickly moved to the broader social perception of religion, especially among secular and atheist circles. Rogan observed, "There's a lot of, like, atheists and secular people that just like to dismiss Christianity as being foolish. You know, 'It's just fairy tales.' I hear that amongst, you know, self-professed intelligent people, like, 'It's a fairy tale.'" He pushed back on this view, arguing that it's a "shallow way to look at thousands of years of accumulated human experience." For Rogan, the stories and teachings found in the Bible are not just relics of the past, but windows into the values and struggles of earlier civilizations—passed down through oral tradition, then written in languages and contexts often foreign to modern readers.
Rogan's curiosity about the historical underpinnings of religious stories is more than academic. He pointed out, for example, the prevalence of flood myths across different cultures and suggested that scientific evidence of a prehistoric flood, possibly caused by comet impacts, lends credence to the idea that some Biblical events have a basis in reality. As he put it, "I think there's more to it. I think it's history, but I think it's a confusing history. It's a confusing history because it was a long time ago. And it's people telling things in an oral tradition, then writing things down in a language that you don't understand in the context of a culture that you don't understand. And I think there's something to what they're saying." (Fox News, Breitbart)
The discussion then turned to the figure at the heart of Christianity: Jesus Christ. Rogan was effusive in his admiration, describing Jesus as both a "philosophically remarkable and historically valid figure." He noted, "Christianity in particular is the most fascinating to me because there's this one person that everybody agrees existed, that somehow or another had the best plan for how human beings should interact with each other and behave and was the best example of it and even died in a nonviolent way, like didn't even protest, died on the cross supposedly for our sins. Like, it's a fascinating story." Rogan further remarked on the "universal depiction" of Jesus among his contemporaries, saying, "That doesn't seem to vary that much between all the people that knew him. That gets weird." (Fox News, Breitbart)
Francis Foster, one of Rogan's guests, highlighted a ritual from the Roman Catholic Mass that particularly resonated with him: the moment when worshipers wish each other peace with a handshake and the phrase, "Peace be with you." Foster described this as a powerful human connection, and Rogan agreed, noting the significance of such gestures in fostering community and goodwill among strangers. "If you're just relying on your whims and your, you know, whatever you think is the moral thing to do, you know, then you know what you get? You get those people that are unable to answer the question of whether or not you should protect an unborn fetus or whether or not they have human rights," Rogan argued. "If you have religion, you go ‘Wow, that’s a good question.'" (Fox News)
The conversation also touched on the cultural moment of the early 2000s, when the New Atheist movement—led by figures like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris—gained prominence by arguing that society could and should move beyond religious belief. Foster recalled, "I think that’s fundamentally inaccurate," while Kisin and Rogan both admitted to having been interested in the movement at one time. Rogan reflected, "But a lot of those guys fell apart. A lot of those guys get real persnickety; they don’t seem very enlightened. They don't seem like they're at peace, which is interesting." (Fox News)
Despite acknowledging political disagreements with some Christians, Rogan was quick to point out the positive qualities he has observed among believers. "Many Christians he has met are the happiest and kindest people he’s ever met," he said, echoing sentiments reported by Breitbart. For Rogan, the evidence of faith's impact is not just found in ancient texts or philosophical arguments, but in the lived experiences and character of those who practice it.
Throughout the podcast episode, Rogan returned time and again to the idea that religion—far from being a relic of the past or a set of "fairy tales"—offers something vital in the modern world. He sees it as a source of moral guidance, a way for individuals to strive for self-improvement, and a foundation for community and compassion. While he acknowledged that the history of Christianity (and religion more broadly) is complex and sometimes confusing, he insisted that it cannot be dismissed out of hand.
In a cultural landscape where debates over faith and secularism often become polarized, Rogan's nuanced take stands out. He did not claim to have all the answers, nor did he suggest that religion is without flaws. Instead, he offered an invitation—to look deeper, to consider the historical and personal significance of faith, and to recognize the ways in which it continues to shape lives for the better.
As Rogan, Foster, and Kisin wrapped up their conversation, the message was clear: In a world searching for meaning, connection, and moral certainty, the ancient wisdom and communal rituals of religion may still have much to offer. For Rogan, at least, the church remains a place not only of tradition, but of transformation.
