RS4256: Dr. King and Empire: How Dr. King Resisted War, Capitalism and Christian Fundamentalism -
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Starr King School for the Ministry (www.sksm.edu) - Graduate Theological Union
FALL 2011
Wednesday 9:40-12:30
You know Dr. King had a dream, but did you know he also resisted the nightmare of Empire? This first-of-its kind course will examine the lesser-understood and more radical dimensions of Dr. King’s life. Beginning with Dr. King’s seminary and graduate years, his philosophical influences and Unitarian inspired theology will be investigated. After a brief overview of King’s role in the civil rights movement from 1955-‘65 the course will then look at his views on white people and racism and how they shifted towards Malcolm X’s. Next, King’s resistance to capitalism will be explored. He moved himself and his family into the slums of Chicago in 1966, called for a guaranteed annual income and was planning a national rally against poverty in Washington D.C. Finally, the course will examine Dr. King’s courageous and bold stance against the Vietnam War and U.S. Imperialism. His relationships to other religious anti-war leaders such as Thich Nhat Hanh and Abraham Joschual Heschel will also be looked at. COURSE FORMAT: Lecture & Discussion. Video, Audio and Multi-Media will also be used.
About the Instructor:
Robert James Scofield aka "Be" is the #1 most read blogger for Michael Lerner's Tikkun Magazine and founder of God Bless the Whole World (www.godblessthewholeworld.org). He has been studying Dr. King for over 7 years and has produced an audio CD which highlights clips of Dr. King's statements about war, capitalism and Imperialism. The noted historian Howard Zinn called the CD "Quite Wonderful...A Truly Inspiring Album." In December 2009 he published an important article in Tikkun magazine that revealed that Dr. King rejected the literal interpretation of the Christian Doctrines including the divinity of Jesus, heaven or hell and the virgin birth ("King's God: The Unknown Faith of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.") A long time social activist, Be has participated in numerous internships and campaigns, led anti-racist groups and organized events for peace and justice. He holds a B.A. in psychology/philosophy from Warren Wilson College, has done graduate work in Postcolonial Anthropology and is a 4th year M.Div student at Starr King School for the Ministry.
