Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians
Overview
In this interesting and important introduction to the life and thought of Martin Luther King Jr., theologian Rufus Burrow explores King’s life as well as his thinking and activism. Burrow addresses those who see King as only a social activist by showing how his studies, particularly his theological studies, influenced, shaped, and transformed the activist path he pursued during his public life. This book, with dozens of illustrations by artist Ron Hill, is written for a broad audience. It explores King’s legacy, the continuing importance of his work, and it will serve as an excellent introduction to King’s life and thinking.
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- Highlights the life, mission, and message of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Offers knowledge from field experts in a simple and playful presentation
- Features witty illustrations by Ron Hill
Top Highlights
“Because of this, King Jr. credited his father with doing much to shape his social conscience. Daddy King had been president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, and he courageously challenged injustice. He refused to ride segregated buses and fought to equalize the pay of white and black school teachers in Atlanta. King Jr.’s admiration for his father’s social gospel ministry was an important factor in his decision to answer the call to ministry. Although seminary would give him the formal education, his father and others in the black church tradition supplied him with models for actually doing social gospel ministry based on their understanding of the Christian faith.” (Pages 36–37)
“Unfortunately, the Reconstruction period also saw the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group founded in 1866 by Confederate veterans to terrorize blacks and their white allies. During this period the Klan worked mainly to keep blacks from voting. In addition, it also helped to restore power to conservative Democrats in the South.” (Pages 15–16)
“Martin Luther King was committed to addressing and eliminating a trilogy of interconnected social problems: racism, militarism, poverty and economic injustice. He vowed to never adjust to these social evils. In a number of his last speeches, sermons, writings, and interviews King challenged this nation to do four things if it hoped to live as God expects nations to live: (1) to develop an internationalist human rights, or ‘world house,’ perspective, (2) to rid itself of the last vestiges of racism, (3) to address the issue of massive poverty, and (4) to acknowledge its militarism, eliminate it, and internationalize nonviolence.” (Page 126)
- Title: Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians
- Authors: Rufus Burrow Jr.
- Series: W. J. K. Armchair
- Publisher: Westminster John Knox
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 208
- Resource Type: Biographies, Introductions
- Topic: Martin Luther King Jr.