Dr. James Patterson is associate professor of politics at Ave Maria University where he teaches courses in American politics, media, religion, and political philosophy. He is author of Religion in the Public Square: Sheen, King, Falwell.

In this installment, Dr. Patterson and I discuss his chapter on Martin Luther King  in Race and Covenant: Recovering the Religious Roots for American Reconciliation. We discuss why people refer to Martin Luther King as "Doctor" rather than "Reverend." We also discuss King's fidelity to the Social Gospel and how that influenced his understanding of economics. Dr. Patterson then explains why Rev. King doesn't fit so neatly into the ideological categories of the right or the Left. 

Dr. Patterson then distinguishes King's understanding of the Hebraic-Christian heritage, how it differs from Judeo-Christian values, and how it influenced his understanding of both the Beloved Community and the National Covenant. 

We then get into David Garrow's revelations of King's personal life and how King's frequent transgressions undermined his moral authority. In light of these revelations, Dr. Patterson suggests that we should appreciate what Rev. King accomplished in his public ministry of civil rights. However, we should just as easily reject the temptation to sanctify him as a whole.