David Dark

David Dark is an American writer, in the area of Christianity and philosophy.

Early life and education

Dark was born in 1969.^[1] He earned a BA^{[clarification needed (field?)]} from Middle Tennessee State University.^{[2][independent source needed]} He received his PhD^{[clarification needed (field?)]} from Vanderbilt University,^[3] in 2011.^[1]

Career

Dark began his career teaching high school English.^[1] As of 2024, Dark was listed among the faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Belmont University, where his title was Associate Professor of Religion and the Arts.^[4][5][6] He also teaches at the Charles Bass Correctional Facility and the Tennessee Prison for Women.^[1]

Writing

Among the works that Dark has written are:^[7]

• Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead, The Simpsons, and Other Pop Culture Icons (2002);
• The Gospel According to America: A Meditation on a God-blessed, Christ-Haunted Idea (2005);
• The Sacredness of Questioning Everything (2009);
• Life's Too Short To Pretend You're Not Religious (2016);
• The Possibility of America (2019); ^[8]
• We Become What We Normalize: What We Owe Each Other In Worlds That Demand Our Silence (2023).^[9]

Dark also contributed the chapter, "'The Eraser': Start Making Sense," to the book, Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter, Happier More Deductive.^[10]

Awards and recognition

The Gospel According to America was included in Publishers’ Weekly’s top religious books of 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Appearances

David Dark has spoken at the Festival of Faith and Music at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan several times, including as a workshop speaker in 2003 and 2009, and the keynote speaker at the 2005 and 2007 events.^[11][12][13]

He also spoke at the UK’s Greenbelt Festival in 2023.^[14]

He appeared in the 2013 documentary "American Jesus".^[15] He tells the story of 'Uncle Ben' to explain the relationship Christians have with their faith.

Personal life

Dark is married to singer/songwriter Sarah Masen and they live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children.^[3]

Works

Books

• Dark, David (2002). Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead, The Simpsons, and Other Pop Culture Icons. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press. ISBN 9781587430558.
• ——— (2005). The Gospel According To America: A Meditation on a God-blessed, Christ-haunted Idea. ISBN 9780664227692.
• ——— (2009). The Sacredness of Questioning Everything. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310286189.
• ——— (2016). Life's Too Short to Pretend You're Not Religious. Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. ISBN 9780830844463.
• ——— (2019). The Possibility of America. London, UK: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 9780664264659.
• ——— (2023). We Become What We Normalize: What We Owe Each Other In Worlds That Demand Our Silence. London, UK: Broadleaf Books. ISBN 9781506481685.

Chapters

• ——— (2009). "Chapter 7. "The Eraser": Start Making Sense". In Forbes, Brandon W. & Reisch, George A. (ed.). Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter, Happier, More Deductive. Popular Culture and Philosophy. Vol. 38. Chicago and La Salle, IL: Open Court. ISBN 9780812696646. Retrieved October 28, 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)