What was Isaac Watts' theological background?
score:5
Quoth Wikipedia:
Likewise, Isaac Watts held religious opinions that were more non-denominational or ecumenical than was at that time common for a Nonconformist; he had a greater interest in promoting education and scholarship than preaching for any particular ministry.
The general consensus is that Watts' father was a dissenter and that Watts followed suit. No denomination truly claim him as "one of their own". That said, his particular congregation was independent in 18th century UK. Now, while that does not necessarily mean that he was of Puritan stock, it means that he was far closer to that than, say, Presbyterian. And, FWIW, the Puritan church in the US predominantly became Congregationalists.
Realize that this edit is a bit old, but I can confirm O God Our Help and When I Survey are in at least one modern Catholic hymnal.
Upvote:3
No, he was not an Anglican. "Dissenting" or "Independent" congregations and ministers were those whose faith and practice put them outside the bounds of the Church of England.
They often suffered for this -- Watts' father was imprisoned, and although Watts himself lived in a more tolerant time, he could not attend either Oxford of Cambridge Universities. On the other hand, the congregation he served, St Mark's Independent Chapel, was located in the financial center of London, and included many wealthy and well-connected members.
In Watts' own case, although his theology is said to have less stridently sectarian than than of some other Dissenting ministers, it does seem to have had a few irregularities. For example, I have read that he attempted to mediate between orthodox Trinitarian doctrine and Arianism, with a unique theory about the union of Christ's human soul to the Logos, and by treating the Holy Spirit as a figure of speech.
More post
- 📝 Historical figures mentioned in the Bible that sceptics doubted existed but were later confirmed by archaeology
- 📝 Are there any mandatory prayers in Christianity?
- 📝 Are there any differences between Protestant and Catholic theology concerning the distinction between demonic possession from mental illness?
- 📝 How was Solomon considered one of the wisest?
- 📝 Does the right side have a higher status than the left?
- 📝 Why is the Gospel of Mark said to present Jesus as "the Servant"?
- 📝 Why does Nephi believe he can keep all the commandments?
- 📝 Is Mary omniscient (by participation, not by nature)?
- 📝 In Catholic understanding when there is more than one Pope, who decides which Pope is real and by what criteria?
- 📝 What does it mean to judge the fatherless?
- 📝 Which sects interpret "Day and Hour unknown" literally?
- 📝 Question about a mixed metaphor and the argument from causation
- 📝 If someone is called by God to be an apostle, what is the proper way for them to convince others that their calling is genuine?
- 📝 Any dangers for the usage of sacramentals that are not-yet-blessed-by-a-priest?
- 📝 Can the cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 12:1 speak to us today?
- 📝 When was the term 'substitutionary atonement' first coined and what was the reason for the choice of the 2 words?
- 📝 Is it true that some of the Catholic saints did not existat all?
- 📝 Are all things possible with God?
- 📝 Why was the Holy Family instructed to flee to Egypt?
- 📝 Is the Bible an inexhaustible source?
- 📝 According to Lutherans, under what conditions (or at what moment) do the consecrated species cease to be the blood and body of Christ?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, what is wrong with Luther's doctrine of ubiquity?
- 📝 Did the women disciples of Jesus go to his tomb on Sunday morning to perform an optional Jewish ritual?
- 📝 Can you give example about prophecies that have and haven't been fulfilled?
- 📝 John the Disciple and John the Elder
- 📝 Does "Mere Christianity" represent the core of Christian belief?
- 📝 How Are Trials Supposed to Build Faith?
- 📝 How does free will fit with the doctrine of predestination?
- 📝 Fallen Angels worshiped in ancient civilizations?
- 📝 Is Job's statement that his redeemer lives and would stand upon the Earth, a statement of faith or a prediction of Christ?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What was Isaac Watts' theological background?
- 📝 What was Isaac Newton's view of the Trinity?
- 📝 What is the theological background to the belief that taxation is theft?
- 📝 What is the origin of the term Prima Scriptura and the background against which it was defined?
- 📝 What is the theological background of the WWJD movement?
- 📝 What evidence is there that Jesus was a carpenter?
- 📝 What was it about the death of Jesus that allows God to forgive us?
- 📝 What are the theological implications of "filioque"?
- 📝 What denominations, besides JWs, hold that the Star of Bethlehem was sent by Satan?
- 📝 What color was Augustine's skin?
- 📝 What are the Biblical and theological problems with theistic evolution?
- 📝 At what time of day was Jesus crucified?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus was the "second Adam"?
- 📝 What was the difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees?
- 📝 What crime was committed by the "thieves" crucified with Jesus?
- 📝 What is the support for saying Jesus believed Genesis was a literal account of creation?
- 📝 What process was used to translate the KJV?
- 📝 Wave offering; What exactly was the point?
- 📝 What of Augustine's ecclesiology was rejected in the Reformation?
- 📝 What was the specific trap being set for Jesus by the Pharisees in John 8?
- 📝 What is the evidence that suggests that the Apostle Paul was married?
- 📝 What was the problem at Babel?
- 📝 What is the theological significance of the label "Christian", according to evangelicals?
- 📝 In what language was the Book of Matthew written?
- 📝 What Scriptures did Arius use to support teaching that Jesus was created?
- 📝 What was inside the Ark of the Covenant?
- 📝 What happened to the wives of priests when celibacy was first instituted in the Catholic church?
- 📝 What was Anselm's biblical basis for his theory of atonement by satisfaction?
- 📝 What evidence is there that Peter was a bishop in Rome?
- 📝 What is the basis for Lombard's view that the basis of justification for OT men was different than for OT women?
