Título: Alan Watts
Seção: Christian priest and after
Background: Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 - 16 November 1973) was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and populariser of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, England, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York. Pursuing a career, he attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, where he received a master's degree in theology. Watts became an Episcopal priest in 1945, then left the ministry in 1950 and moved to California, where he joined the faculty of the American Academy of Asian Studies.

Conteúdo: Watts left formal Zen training in New York because the method of the teacher did not suit him. He was not ordained as a Zen monk, but he felt a need to find a vocational outlet for his philosophical inclinations. He entered Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, an Episcopal (Anglican) school in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied Christian scriptures, theology, and church history. He attempted to work out a blend of contemporary Christian worship, mystical Christianity, and Asian philosophy. Watts was awarded a master's degree in theology in response to his thesis, which he published as a popular edition under the title Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion. He later published Myth & Ritual in Christianity (1953), an eisegesis of traditional Roman Catholic doctrine and ritual in Buddhist terms. However, the pattern was set, in that Watts did not hide his dislike for religious outlooks that he decided were dour, guilt-ridden, or militantly proselytizing--no matter if they were found within Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism.  As recounted in his autobiography, Alan was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1945 (aged 30) and resigned the ministry by 1950, partly as a result of an extramarital affair which resulted in his wife having their marriage annulled, but also because he could no longer reconcile his Buddhist beliefs with the formal doctrine of the church. He spent the New Year getting to know Joseph Campbell and Campbell's wife,

user: When did Alan Watts become a Christian priest?

assistant: As recounted in his autobiography, Alan was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1945

user: Why did Watts become a priest?

assistant: he felt a need to find a vocational outlet for his philosophical inclinations. He entered Seabury-Western Theological Seminary,

user: What did he learn at the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary?

assistant: he studied Christian scriptures, theology, and church history.

user: Did he go on to preach?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: What did he do after being ordained?

assistant: resigned the ministry by 1950, partly as a result of an extramarital affair which resulted in his wife having their marriage annulled,

user: Why did he resign the ministry?

assistant: but also because he could no longer reconcile his Buddhist beliefs with the formal doctrine of the church.

user: What influenced Watts' spirituality?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: In early 1951, Watts moved to California, where he joined the faculty of the American Academy of Asian Studies in San Francisco.