@MarkChancey

Religious Studies Professor. Biblical Studies. Archaeology. Religion and Public Education. Church and State (the further apart the better). Religious Freedom.

 Dallas, TX
Joined September 2011
  • Tweets1.4K
  • Following572
  • Followers319
8Media
Mark Chancey retweeted
SMU
@SMUSep 30
Replying to @SMUDedman
@SMUDedman College professor and historian Ariel Ron has received the 2026 MacArthur Fellowship from @macfound — one of the most prestigious international honors, recognizing exceptional creativity and accomplishment! One of just 20 recipients, Ron receives the $800,000 “genius grant” for his research on 19th-century U.S. politics, agriculture and economic development. Congratulations, @arielronid!!
This is an image of a person standing in a library, holding a book. The text on the image reads, "SMU Historian Ariel Ron Earns 2026 MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’." The background shows shelves filled with books. The SMU logo is present at the bottom.

ALT This is an image of a person standing in a library, holding a book. The text on the image reads, "SMU Historian Ariel Ron Earns 2026 MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’." The background shows shelves filled with books. The SMU logo is present at the bottom.

A historical cartoon featuring two figures tugging on a map labeled "Map of the Union." The map is being pulled in opposite directions. Text below reads: "Professor Ron's research offers new insights into how Northern agriculture shaped economic growth, federal power, and the divisions leading up to the American Civil War."

ALT A historical cartoon featuring two figures tugging on a map labeled "Map of the Union." The map is being pulled in opposite directions. Text below reads: "Professor Ron's research offers new insights into how Northern agriculture shaped economic growth, federal power, and the divisions leading up to the American Civil War."

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Mark Chancey retweeted
Texas Observer@TexasObserverJun 6
Top story, from @drdrbrockman: Though MAGA believers call James Talarico “blasphemous,” he’s squarely within his Mainline Presbyterian tradition. And that’s a timely reminder of the diversity of Christianity in Texas and beyond.
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More Christianity in Texas schools being weighed dallasnews.com/news/educatio…

More Christianity in Texas schools being weighed

Texas’ State Board of Education is expected to vote this month on a pair of proposals that would add to the growing presence of Christianity in classrooms across the state. 

dallasnews.com
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Mark Chancey retweeted
Brian Kaylor@BrianKaylorMay 6
Excellent @CNN piece by @HarmeetKaur unpacking the problems with how Hegseth is invoking "Pharisees" as an insult against journalists. Appreciate being included in piece, especially alongside Amy-Jill Levine (& other scholars): cnn.com/2026/05/06/us/word-o…

Who is Pete Hegseth calling ‘Pharisees’? | CNN

The defense secretary complained about “Pharisees” in a briefing about the Iran war. CNN’s Word of the Week talks to biblical scholars and rhetoric experts about what they say Hegseth gets wrong...

cnn.com
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Study traces anti-Muslim campaign to Greg Abbott baptistnews.com/article/stud… via @baptist_news

Study traces anti-Muslim campaign to Greg Abbott

The current surge in anti-Muslim hatred from elected Republicans can be traced to a social media post by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott early last year, according to a new study by the Center for the Study...

baptistnews.com
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Mark Chancey retweeted
Texas Observer@TexasObserverMar 21
Drive around Fort Worth, or any populous Texas city, and you’ll see Muslim mosques, Hindu and Buddhist temples, Sikh gurdwaras, Jewish synagogues, as well as Christian churches of all sizes and varieties. A diversity that depends on a wall of separation. texasobserver.org/a-wall-tha…

A Wall That’s Worth Defending

Some evangelical Christians are hammering away at the very church-state separation that allowed them, and other believers, to first flourish in America.

texasobserver.org
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Mark Chancey retweeted
Texas Observer@TexasObserverMar 18
These measures promote one religion over others, and religion over non-religion, threatening to turn students, families, and teachers who don’t subscribe to Christian-nationalist religiosity into outsiders in their own public schools and communities. texasobserver.org/a-wall-tha…

A Wall That’s Worth Defending

Some evangelical Christians are hammering away at the very church-state separation that allowed them, and other believers, to first flourish in America.

texasobserver.org
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Only 15 Texas districts opt in for prayer and Bible reading bit.ly/4cLVAsN

Only 15 Texas districts opt in for prayer and Bible reading

All but 15 of more than 1,200 Texas school districts and charters rejected a state law that encourages students and staff to pray and read the Bible during the school day, The Texas Tribune...

baptistnews.com
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Ten Commandments in schools? Ten Commandments monuments? Brian Kaylor, Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and I discuss the issues in the latest podcast from Word & Way. dogma.wordandway.org/rewriti…

Dangerous Dogma: Rewriting the Ten Commandments (A Trick of State)

In this episode, President Brian Kaylor looks at legislation across the country that purports to want the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. But the version mandated by lawmakers cannot be...

dogma.wordandway.org
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Mark Chancey retweeted
Evan@evan7257Mar 2
Get the Ten Commandments off my Spring Branch kindergartner’s wall | Opinion houstonchronicle.com/opinion… via @houstonchron

Get the Ten Commandments off my Spring Branch kindergartner’s wall

If a poem or storybook referenced adultery or killing in a kindergarten classroom, it would be removed immediately.

houstonchronicle.com
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Social studies work group members urge State Board of Education not to rush process dallasnews.com/news/educatio…

Social studies work group members urge State Board of Education not to rush process

The state is in the middle of overhauling the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for social studies, the standards that dictate what students learn in each grade level. The new standards will

dallasnews.com
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The court held that, since the displays hadn't yet been posted in the plaintiffs’ classrooms, it “cannot yet know ...how the text will be used.” The opinion didn't address the TX suit challenging SB 10, a similar law, that was argued w/the LA one in Jan. au.org/the-latest/press/loui…
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More than 160 Texas faith leaders urge school districts to reject prayer policy under new state law. We were glad to participate in this effort and grateful to the faith leaders who support our effort. houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron

160 Texas faith leaders urge schools to reject prayer policy under new state law

A new state law requires school boards to vote on establishing a period of prayer and “reading of the Bible or other religious text" at public schools.

houstonchronicle.com
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The government’s idea of 'Judeo-Christianity' doesn’t sound very Jewish religionnews.com/2026/01/07/…

The government’s idea of 'Judeo-Christianity' doesn’t sound very Jewish

(RNS) — If this is Judeo-Christianity, it seems that what comes after the hyphen is doing most of the work.

religionnews.com
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Abbott has for some time boasted about using his gubernatorial power to promote and favor Christianity. Now he's using it to target and disfavor Islam. An elected official should not do either. eedition.houstonchronicle.co…

Abbott targets Islamic master-planned community

Abbott targets Islamic master-planned community

eedition.houstonchronicle.com
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Good NYTimes piece by @ashleyahn88 on how Trump administration pushed sectarian messages on Christmas: nytimes.com/2025/12/25/admin… This fits problematic trend of Christian social media posts as DHS & DoW have co-opted Bible verses & others like DoL have pushed Christian content. 1/

Trump Administration Emphasizes Religion in Official Christmas Messages

Government officials have traditionally steered clear of such overtly religious language, as the Constitution prohibits the establishment of an official state religion.

nytimes.com
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Mark Chancey retweeted
AASA
@AASAHQ10 Nov 2025
How should public schools approach the Bible? In #AASAMag, @MarkChancey of @SMU explains why teaching the Bible for cultural literacy—objectively and without bias—can deepen students’ understanding of history and society. Read more: aasa.org/resources/resource/… #PublicEducation

Fitting Place for the Bible in Public Schooling

A noted scholar on the appropriate classroom use of the Bible and other religious texts in the study of history and literature, even-handedly and reflecting the spirit of federal law.

aasa.org
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NEW: An Episcopal priest — a Kenyan national who works with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice — has been detained by ICE, says diocese. The area bishop, reached via email, told me church officials still “do not know yet why he was targeted.” religionnews.com/2025/11/02/…

Texas Episcopal diocese says one of its priests has been detained by ICE

(RNS) — 'We do not know yet why he was targeted,' said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, who leads the Diocese of Texas.

religionnews.com
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NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility. Three say they've been shot w/pepper balls, sometimes while praying. All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/…

In Chicago, clergy and faith-based protesters say ICE is threatening their religious freedom

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who...

religionnews.com
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medialaw.unc.edu/events/fait… Free online event on October 8!
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