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The Dialectical Method of Martin Luther King View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ETD - Electronic Theses & Dissertations THEOLOGIAN OF SYNTHESIS: THE DIALECTICAL METHOD OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AS REVEALED IN HIS CRITICAL THINKING ON THEOLOGY, HISTORY, AND ETHICS By George Russell Seay, Jr. Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Religion December 2008 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Professor Victor Anderson Professor Lewis Baldwin Professor Paul DeHart Professor Peter Hodgson Copyright © 2008 by G. Russell Seay, Jr. All Rights Reserved Dedicated to Elder Joseph W. McCoy Friend, Mentor, Confidant, and Patron Saint iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My journey to the completion of this dissertation and Ph.D. program is liken to the turtle perched on the gatepost. It could not have gotten there by itself. There are so many persons that have contributed to my completing this program. My undergraduate professors at Oakwood College were Clifford Pitts, my theology teacher who opened up to me the world of theology and sparked an interest that would be fanned into a blaze. Benjamin Reaves, my homiletics professor who demonstrated that theology at its best serves the preaching moment. My teachers at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Raoul Dederen, Norman Miles, Robert Johnston, Walter Douglass, Fritz Guy, and Hans LaRondale, who grounded me in my faith tradition by insisting that “faith seeking understanding is a life long journey.” I would like to thank my professors at Vanderbilt. The classes and seminars of Sallie McFague, Eugene TeSelle, Edward Farley, Victor Anderson, Lewis Baldwin, Peter Hodgson and Paul DeHart were challenging, provocative, and stimulating. Cathy Griswold and Marie McEntire’s steady presence in the Graduate Department of Religion’s administrative office was priceless as I attempted to navigate the labyrinth of forms, deadlines and requirements. A special word of thanks goes to three of my professors at Vanderbilt. Peter Hodgson’s confidence in my potential was critical in my being accepted into the doctoral program. His “Nineteenth Century Theologians” course ignited my imagination during his lectures on Hegel, which led ultimately to this dissertation. The fragility of human language cannot adequately support the weight of my gratitude needing expression for iv Victor Anderson and Lewis Baldwin. They took me under their wings and mentored me through my doctoral studies by encouraging me when I was low and challenging me when I was less than my best. They would not give up on me, neither would they allow me to quit. Their input and counsel were invaluable. Victor Anderson guided me through the dissertation process. His critical insights have challenged me to be a better thinker and writer. The shortcomings of this project are due to my own limitations and do not reflect fully the invaluable investment of his time and effort. There are two persons that need special mention at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University’s Mugar Memorial Library. Sean Noel, associate director of the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, was very helpful in arranging my three visits to Boston University to do archival work in the Martin Luther King Jr. papers. Charles Niles, the Martin Luther King Jr. papers archivists, was extremely helpful in assisting me in navigating the voluminous papers to maximize my times while at the Mugar Memorial Library. Personal thanks go to Elder Joseph W. McCoy who provided moral and financial support during my doctoral studies as the president of the South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. His recognition that the African-American Seventh-day Adventist community needed prepared scholars of religion to help navigate its leadership and membership through the uncertain days ahead, not only encouraged me to enter doctoral studies at Vanderbilt, but arranged a paid leave of absence with tuition and resource support. Special thanks to Elder Benjamin P. Browne who provided continued support through encouraging words and strategic pastoral placement for the completion of this dissertation. v The Vanderbilt University Graduate Department has produced a number of Seventh-day Adventist scholars of religion. During my matriculation I have benefited from a number of conversation partners of my faith community. I would like to acknowledge their contribution to my Vanderbilt experience. They are Andy Lampkin, Brogan Scurr, Charles Bowie, and Stephen Richardson. I cannot overlook the support, encouragement, and inspiration of my family. My parents, George and Ida Seay, instilled in me that obstacles are only invitations to bring forth your best efforts. I have been in school with my children – George III, April, and Hammond — for most of their formative years. They have endured my absences without complaining. Tara, my wife, is actually the co-earner of my degree. She has patiently put off educational and career plans to provide the support at home that made it possible for me to do what was necessary to complete my dissertation and doctoral program. Finally, I would like to acknowledge that there was an unseen Person at my side at every step in the process. This Person has been known by many names: God, Yahweh, the Unmoved Mover, the Word, Sophia, Allah, the Feeling of Absolute Dependency, the Absolute, the Absolute Geist, and the Cosmic Companion. Through this process I have come to know this Person as a Friend who provides, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, ‘the interior resources to meet the challenges of this life and the hope to face life to come.” vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ ix INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Chapter I. DIALECTICS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S LIFE ..............................8 Martin Luther King Jr. Dualities in Personal Context ...............................11 Parents: Dialectic of Personality ....................................................11 The Black Church: Dialectics of Faith and Reason .......................14 Classism: Dialectics of Haves and Have Not’s ..............................18 Racism: The Dialectics of Black and White ..................................19 Intellectual Development – Quest for a Method ........................................22 Morehouse: Continuity and Change ..............................................22 Crozer Theological Seminary: A Turn Towards Liberalism .........30 Boston University: Back to the Future...........................................36 Summary ....................................................................................................41 II. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR’S AND THE DIALECTICAL METHOD .....43 Kant, Hegel, and the Roots of King’s Dialectical Method ........................45 Towards a Definition of Dialectic ..................................................45 Kant, Hegel and the Dialectic of Understanding ...........................46 Martin Luther King Jr. and the Dialectic ...................................................52 King and Hegel ..............................................................................53 King and Hegel’s Absolute Idealism .............................................55 King and Hegel’s Dialectic ............................................................57 King’s Dialectical Method .............................................................61 Summary ....................................................................................................63 III. DIALECTICS IN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S CONCEPTS OF GOD AND HUMANITY ..........................................................................................66 Concept of God ..........................................................................................67 Sources of King’s Concept of God ................................................68 Knowledge of God: Dialectic of Reason and Revelation ..............76 God’s Transcendence and Immanence ..........................................81 vii God’s Infinite Goodness and Finite Power ....................................87 Doctrine of Humanity ................................................................................94 Humanity’s Essential Nature: A Realistic View ...........................95 A Modern Christian Theological Anthropology .........................100 Summary ..................................................................................................107 IV. GROWTH THROUGH STRUGGLE: KING’S DIALECTICS IN HISTORY .................................................................................................108 Making Sense of History: Dialectics of God and Humanity ...................109 King, Hegel, and History .............................................................109 King, Marx, and History ..............................................................119 A Personalistic Philosophy of History .........................................124 Dialectic of God and Humanity in Hegel, Marx, and Personalism
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