Concept of Love in Martin Luther King Jr

Muomah, Ike
Romanus Ike Muomah was born in Nnewi, Anambra State Nigeria. He studied Philosophy at Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri. Later on, he studied Theology at Blessed Iwene Tansi Seminary Onitsha, Nigeria and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Nnewi. He later did his MS and PhD at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

The search for peace, love, cooperation and mutual existence in the world has made the research on Martin Luther King Jr's principle of nonviolent revolution an imperative. The aim of nonviolent revolution, as practised by King, is to build a beloved community, where love holds sway. In this beloved community, the ethic of love stands out. That is why in the midst of human exploitation, brutality, extreme poverty, social injustice, political intimidations, war and racism, King seeks reconciliation through love and forgiveness. The work considers whether King's concept of love when applied can restore peace and harmony in the contemporary society. It also considers whether Luther's concept of beloved community through the power of love is achievable in this postmodern society of extremely calculated and inflicted poverty, war and racism. The researcher, furthermore, analyzed whether King's concept of love can stand as a unifying principle in the midst of Boko Haram, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nigeria, Niger Delta militants, Islamic militants, and other conflict-ridden situations that trouble the postmodern world.