Biography
David R. Brockman, Ph.D., is a nonresident scholar for the Baker Institute’s Religion and Public Policy Program. He is also an adjunct professor at both Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University, where he teaches various courses in religion and religious studies.
From 2010 to 2012, Brockman served as the project director for the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions. He is the author several books, including “Dialectical Democracy through Christian Thought: Individualism, Relationalism, and American Politics” (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2013) and “No Longer the Same: Religious Others and the Liberation of Christian Theology” (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2011). His forthcoming publication, “Educating For Pluralism, or Against It? Lessons from Texas and Quebec on Teaching Religion in Public Schools,” will appear in Religion & Education.
Brockman holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Southern Methodist University. He received a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University and his bachelor’s degree in English and education from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Contact at [email protected] or 817-536-2358.
Recent Publications
Houston Chronicle: Texas religion professor takes on state's Christian influenced lesson plans
"For the past decade, David Brockman, a 66-year-old Episcopalian in Fort Worth, has been a "strong supporter" of teaching religion in Texas public schools. As a nonresident scholar at Rice University's Baker Institute and an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University, where he teaches religion, Brockman believes students in private and public systems would benefit from learning about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism and would better connect with neighbors across an increasingly diverse state. The way he sees it, public school educators who identify with a range of political backgrounds already teach subjects like history and government. Why couldn't they be trained to take on the world's religions in classrooms?"
Dallas Morning News: Sunday schools or Texas public schools? Report questions Christianity in proposed lessons
"Christianity is infused throughout proposed Texas public school lessons more than other world religions, according to a new Texas Freedom Network Education Fund report."
Houston Public Media: New watchdog report criticizes proposed reading curriculum from Texas Education Agency that includes biblical references
"After the Texas Education Agency developed an elementary-level reading curriculum with multiple references to the Bible and Christianity, a new report from Texas Freedom Network found issues with the proposed plans. David Brockman is a nonresident scholar in religion and public policy with Rice University's Baker Institute. He authored the report finding the materials fail to capture historical reality and place too much emphasis on Christianity without adequate coverage of other religions."
External Publications
- “The New Apostolic Reformation Wants God’s Government Back,” Texas Observer, June 3, 2024.
- “Texas Wasn’t Prepared for the Statewide Vaccine Rush,” Texas Observer, February 4, 2021.
- “New Study of Christian Nationalism in Texas Should Be a Warning for the Whole Country,” Religion Dispatches, April 2, 2020.
- “In NO God We Trust?,” Texas Observer, July 24, 2019.
- “We Got Nothing: Few Wins for the Christian Right in the 86th Texas Legislature,” Texas Observer, June 12, 2019.
- “Texas Republicans’ Push for a Religious ‘License to Discriminate’ Is Depressingly Familiar,” Texas Observer, April 17, 2019.
- “Despite Reversal on Hillary and Hellen Keller, ‘Christian Americanist’ Bias Remains in Texas Curriculum,” Rewire News Group, November 19, 2018.
- “The Christian Right’s Politics of Cruelty,” Texas Observer, August 10, 2018.
- “Growing Secular Movement Could Indicate Change in Political Tide — Even in Texas,” Texas Observer, June 22, 2018.
- “The Little-known Theology Behind White Evangelical Support of Donald Trump,” Texas Observer, March 29, 2018.
- “God and Guns: Courting the Christian Fringe in the Texas GOP Primaries,” Texas Observer, March 1, 2018.
- “Something Yuuuge Was Missing From Franklin Graham’s Waco Revival,” Texas Observer, October 26, 2017.
- “Special Session a ‘Battle Royal’ for Dominionists Who Seek Christian Rule,” Texas Observer, August 9, 2017.
- “Critics Fear New Texas Law Giving SBOE Wide Discretion Over Textbooks,” Texas Observer, June 28, 2017.
- “Two North Texas Evangelicals Ask: Would Jesus Deport?,” Texas Observer, May 22, 2017.
- “‘Sermon Safeguard’ Bill is All About Preaching to the Choir,” Texas Observer, February 20, 2017.
- “GOP State Lawmakers Again Take Aim at Wall of Church-State Separation,” Texas Observer, January 4, 2017.
- “Can Muslims Trump Islamphobia?,” Texas Observer, December 13, 2016.
- “When Very Public Christian Go Astray,” Texas Observer, August 17, 2016.
- “The Gospel According to Texas Democrats,” Texas Observer, June 18, 2016.
- “The Radical Theology That Could Make Religious Freedom a Thing of the Past,” Texas Observer, June 2, 2016.
- “Church and State Stay Cozy at Texas GOP Convention,” Texas Observer, May 13, 2016.
- “How Texas Politicians Bungle the Bible,” Texas Observer, April 13, 2016.
- “‘Pistol-Packin’ Christians,” Texas Observer, January 13, 2016.
- “Raising Foot Soldiers for an Imaginary Holy War,” Scalawag Magazine, November 17, 2015.
- “Here’s the Fringe Theology Kids are Learning in Texas Schools,” Texas Observer, October 7, 2015.
Podcasts
- “Would Jesus Say Black Lives Matter?,” The Texas Miracle, Texas Observer, July 15, 2016.