George Bugg
Encyclopedia
George Bugg was an Anglican
deacon and curate for several churches in England and a scriptural geologist, writing a two volume book called Scriptural Geology.
, Leicestershire
. His mother died when he was only nine. In his late teens or early twenties he converted to Christianity, being convinced that “the scriptures are strictly and literally true.” From 1786 he was tutored by Rev. Thomas Baxter and then entered St John's College, Cambridge
in 1791, earning his B.A. degree in 1794. Bugg married Mary Ann Adams in 1804, by whom he had four daughters and one son. She died in 1815 after only eleven years of marriage.
In 1816 and 1843 Bugg wrote two books on baptism and regeneration to refute the view of Mant and Pusey. Bugg considered their views to be identical with Roman Catholic teaching and therefore a threat to the doctrine of Justification by faith
. This was part of the Tractarian movement
in the Anglican Church in the 1830s and 1840s.
Volume one of Bugg's most important work, Scriptural Geology, was published in 1826 and the second volume came out the next year, together they contained more than 717 pages.
Bugg was an outspoken scriptural geologist in the 1820s. His Scriptural Geology harked back to when the new geology was deistic materialism. Bugg deplored most aspects of “modern Geology” (the new geology). It could not possibly exist consistently with a fair and obvious understanding of the Word of God contradicting both sound science and the plainest dictates of common sense. Scriptural Geology serves as a colorful symbol of the movement to which it lent its title. However, it is not typical of 1820s literalist writings about the earth, even of those who shared Bugg’s suspicions.
During the 1820s, an unambiguously oppositional stance towards the new geology was held by a few. This changed when old-earth geology began to be confidently promoted as an alternative to Biblical creation in the 30s. The implied denial of the Bible’s scientific authority was felt inappropriately élitist, diverting the common reader from obtaining natural knowledge through Scripture.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
deacon and curate for several churches in England and a scriptural geologist, writing a two volume book called Scriptural Geology.
Biography
Bugg was baptized in the Anglican church in StathernStathern
Stathern is a village and civil parish in the Melton district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the Vale of Belvoir about north of Melton Mowbray. In the 2001 census the parish had 288 dwellings, and a population of 672.-External links:...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. His mother died when he was only nine. In his late teens or early twenties he converted to Christianity, being convinced that “the scriptures are strictly and literally true.” From 1786 he was tutored by Rev. Thomas Baxter and then entered St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1791, earning his B.A. degree in 1794. Bugg married Mary Ann Adams in 1804, by whom he had four daughters and one son. She died in 1815 after only eleven years of marriage.
In 1816 and 1843 Bugg wrote two books on baptism and regeneration to refute the view of Mant and Pusey. Bugg considered their views to be identical with Roman Catholic teaching and therefore a threat to the doctrine of Justification by faith
Sola fide
Sola fide , also historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith alone, is a Christian theological doctrine that distinguishes most Protestant denominations from Catholicism, Eastern Christianity, and some in the Restoration Movement.The doctrine of sola fide or "by faith alone"...
. This was part of the Tractarian movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
in the Anglican Church in the 1830s and 1840s.
Volume one of Bugg's most important work, Scriptural Geology, was published in 1826 and the second volume came out the next year, together they contained more than 717 pages.
Bugg was an outspoken scriptural geologist in the 1820s. His Scriptural Geology harked back to when the new geology was deistic materialism. Bugg deplored most aspects of “modern Geology” (the new geology). It could not possibly exist consistently with a fair and obvious understanding of the Word of God contradicting both sound science and the plainest dictates of common sense. Scriptural Geology serves as a colorful symbol of the movement to which it lent its title. However, it is not typical of 1820s literalist writings about the earth, even of those who shared Bugg’s suspicions.
During the 1820s, an unambiguously oppositional stance towards the new geology was held by a few. This changed when old-earth geology began to be confidently promoted as an alternative to Biblical creation in the 30s. The implied denial of the Bible’s scientific authority was felt inappropriately élitist, diverting the common reader from obtaining natural knowledge through Scripture.