by Hannah Sievert |
David Turnbloom says he’s really been getting into the food scene in Portland.
He’s new to the West Coast, having received his Ph.D. from Boston College just last year.
Turnbloom has also been getting into the theology scene on The Bluff. The most recent addition to the University of Portland’s theology department, he moved to Portland to begin teaching in the fall. He chose to come to UP because of the faculty’s focus on teaching undergraduates, rather than solely publishing.
“There are different types of universities out there, some of them put a lot of emphasis on professors writing and writing, and publishing and publishing. They put a lot of emphasis on scholarship and not so much on teaching,” Turnbloom said. “This university has its head on its shoulders as far as I’m concerned as far as its teaching undergraduates very well.”
Turnbloom also saw the notoriously secular culture of the West Coast as a change of pace and an opportunity for potential growth as a theologian.
“A lot of people think, ‘Oh that must be harder as a theologian,’ but the way I approach theology, this actually is better. (Portland) provides space for the types of conversations that are important to me,” Turnbloom said. “If I’m surrounded by a bunch of Christians all the time, frankly, it’s harder to learn in a radical way. Not to say that I don’t love being around Christians — obviously I do. But if I ever believe that those are the people I should be learning from, and not the secular, not the atheists, not the agnostics, well then I think I’ve already lost my battle as far as being able to learn as a theologian.”
Freshman Sarah Seydlitz noted his ability to bring these different viewpoints to class in a welcoming way.
“Turnbloom allows room for students to discuss deep topics without feeling pressured or judged,” Seydlitz said.
Turnbloom is especially interested in questions of God’s and humanity’s identities, and has already begun to hold such conversations with the wider campus community through the theology department’s “Theology Thursday” lectures. On Feb. 25, he gave a speech at this event called “The Sacraments: God’s Life in Our Lives.”
This talk was aimed at educating people about the sacraments and bringing together a larger community.
“It gives a chance for the department to connect not only to the students and the faculty and staff on campus, but we reach out and invite people from the Portland area,” Turnbloom said. “We feel that it’s an important part of our mission to connect to the wider part of the community.”
Turnbloom said he enjoyed being able to share something he is passionate about and start conversations, and hopes to improve his ability to do that in the classroom, too. Along with learning as a theologian himself, Turnbloom said his most important goal at UP is becoming a better teacher.
“Every single thing that I do as far as my career is concerned has its motivation and primary purpose toward (answering), ‘How am I a more effective teacher in the classroom?’” Turnbloom said.
And it’s clear that students feel he is already doing a good job.
“You would be hard pressed to find (other) professors of his caliber working with students with such an honest appreciation for their ideas and writings,” freshman Jonathan Wiley, who is working on a presentation with Turnbloom, said. “It is only fitting that he works in the theology department, because he is a fantastic example of Christ's love and compassion. I learned as much from his behavior and intentionality as I did from his lectures.”
Beyond improving his teaching, Turnbloom is working on another book about Thomas Aquinas, and another called “The Eaten Church,” exploring how bread demonstrates how humans can be “food” for the world.
Next year he’ll be teaching a class on liturgy and ethics.
On April 6, he’ll be doing a presentation with Wiley and another first-year student on connections between the Comedy of Louis C.K. and theology.
“I’m excited about that. I’m going to do a brief introduction, and then they’ll be doing the bulk of the presentation,” Turnbloom said. “It’s a joint effort between the three of us. There’s room for us to do fun stuff like that.”
Hannah Sievert is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at sievert19@up.edu.
