Curtis A. Bronzan

Grades were due for the fall quarter at Fuller today, which means that after a couple busy weeks of grading 50+ final papers, I’m now able to return to some of my own research interests. I won’t begin actually writing my ThM thesis until this summer (after a required integration course in the spring), though this quarter I have the opportunity for another directed study with Barry Taylor, a professor who has significantly shaped my thinking in past courses as well as a previous directed study.

The first section of my ThM thesis will specifically examine Jesus’ action in the temple through detailed exegetical work. From there, however, I’m not exactly sure how best to proceed in arguing for a (post)modern de(con)struction of (our) temples that remain faithful to Jesus’ prophetic action.

As such, this quarter I’ll be examining the theological impact of a few different thinkers, some of whom I’m somewhat familiar with (Derrida, Vattimo, and Girard) and others of whom I’m not (Nietzsche, Rorty, and Foucault). Creating the reading list was rather difficult, especially considering T&T Clark’s recent “_____ and Theology” series as well as Baker’s Church and Postmodern Culture series. Ultimately, however, I’m excited about how it ended up – and am looking forward to conversations with Barry regarding the subject matter.

This fall, I again have the distinguished opportunity to do a directed study with Ryan Bolger, which comprises another 4 units en route to Fuller’s ThM degree in the School of Intercultural Studies.

I’ve previously been able to fill units (and even meet requirements) by studying missional ecclesiology with Ryan and postmodern philosophy/culture with Barry Taylor.

This quarter, however, I’ll be delving into the religious and social setting of the first century. Ultimately, my hope is that all three streams come together for my thesis, tentatively titled The De(con)struction of the Church: An(other) Attempt at Religion (Without Religion).