The Thinking & Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Want to learn more about theology and justice? Consider taking an online/phone course entitled “The Thinking and Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.” It is offered through the Church of the Larger Fellowship. This course provides both readings and phone conversations for participants to learn about the theology that shaped King’s work for justice and to consider how his life and teachings might shape our own justice work.
The course will cover the following:
Beginning with King’s upbringing in the Black Church, we’ll explore how his thinking evolved through college, seminary, and during his PhD. Influenced by Protestant liberal theology and the African American religious experience, he searched for a faith that was both emotionally satisfying and intellectually appealing. This led King to some surprising conclusions. He rejected the literal divinity of Jesus, didn’t believe in a literal heaven or hell, and thought the Bible was a myth that contained many metaphorical truths. Drawing from the work of King scholars such as James Cone, Lewis Baldwin, Clayborne Carson, and Taylor Branch, we’ll examine some of the key themes, experiences, and ideas that shaped King’s vision of the social gospel. His theology will also be placed in the context of his more radical views on capitalism, war, and poverty. We will also explore King’s relationship to Unitarianism as he and Coretta attended Unitarian services in Boston and he had expressed interest in the tradition.
To find out more and register for “The Thinking and Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” click here.
