Willem Muurling was a Dutch theologian who was a native of Bolsward

Bolsward

Bolsward is a city in Súdwest Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward is just short of a population of 10,000.- History :The town is founded on three artificial dwelling hills, of which the first was built some time before Christ....

. He was father-in-law to theologian Abraham Kuenen

Abraham Kuenen

Abraham Kuenen , Dutch Protestant theologian, the son of an apothecary, was born in Haarlem, North Holland....

 (1828-1891).

He studied theology at Utrecht, and from 1832 to 1837 served as a pastor

Pastor

The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....

 in Stiens

Stiens

Stiens is the largest town within the municipality of Leeuwarderadeel, with a population of about 7,800. The town hall of the municipality is located in Stiens....

. Afterwards he taught classes at the Rijksatheneum in Franeker

Franeker

Franeker is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Franekeradeel. It is located about 20 km west of Leeuwarden on the Van Harinxma Canal. As of 1 January 2006, it had 12,996 inhabitants. The city is famous for the Eisinga Planetarium from around...

, and in 1840 relocated to the University of Groningen

University of Groningen

The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...

, where he was a professor of theology.

Muurling was a prominent member of the so-called "Groningen School

Groningen theology

Groningen theology was a popular movement which grew from the founding influence of Philip Willem van Heusde, who was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utrecht from 1804 to 1839. The emphasis of the movement was education: God educates people through his acts. The ideas of Groningen...

", which was a progressive movement within the Dutch Reformed Church

Dutch Reformed Church

The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...

. One of his better known publications was a textbook on practical theology

Practical theology

Practical theology is the practical application of theology to everyday life. Richard Osmer explains that the four key questions and tasks in practical theology are:# What is going on? # Why is this going on?...

 titled Practische Godgeleerdheid of beschouwing van de Evangeliebediening. Other written works by Muurling include:

• Louis Gerlach Pareau: Een Levensbeeld; (Louis Gerlach Pareau
  Louis Gerlach Pareau
  Louis Gerlach Pareau, was a Dutch theologian born in Deventer. He was the son of Jean Henri Pareau , a professor of Oriental languages at the University of Utrecht....
  
  : A Life Portrait 1866)
• Hervormde Kerk: Een handboek bij de Acad. lessen, Groningen 1851-'57, (Reformed Church: A Textbook to the Academic Lessons at Groningen 1851-1857)
• Resultaten van onderzoek en ervaring op godsdienst gebied, Groningen 1865-'67, (Results of Research and Experience in Theology at Groningen 1865-1867)