The theology of the Chassidei Ashkenaz is certainly independent and unique; however, it does contain meaningful similarities to the theologies of both the early kabbalists and of Saadia Gaon.
Vilna Gaon | Saadia Gaon | Gaon | Gaon (village) | Gaon (Hebrew) |
Against Rapoport, Guttmann has shown (Monatsschrift, p. 201, note 2) that Naḥmanides read and used the Hegyon ha-Nefesh, though occasionally differing from it; but while Saadia is elsewhere quoted by Abraham b.
Saadia Gaon had made a ruling that followed that of his predecessor Amran.
The best known practitioner of Jewish Kalam was Saadia Gaon, and Jewish Kalam represented the philosophical battlefield upon which Saadia attacked his Karaitic opponents.