Borne Forward Ceaselessly Into Love: A Theory of the Hermeneutics of Love Exemplified by Martin Luther King, Jr. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Selig, Jennifer Leigh
• Other Names: Robbins Brent Dean guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of humanistic psychology. Volume 56:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 238
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: hermeneutics of love -- Martin Luther King, Jr. -- agape -- the beloved community -- the Civil Rights Movement; Humanistic psychology -- Periodicals; 150.192
• DOI: 10.1177/0022167815587847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1678

Abstract

In this article, I develop a theory of a hermeneutics of love, defined as the act of interpreting with love, through love, and for love, including the intention to take action on behalf of love. Declaring love as my gospel, I begin with the "genesis" of this theory, with how I came to develop it, and I end with the "revelations" that came as I applied this theory in my life and teaching. In between, I utilize a case study of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, showing how King was a practitioner par excellence of a hermeneutics of love. King elevated agape, defined as unconditional love for all of humanity, even one's enemies, into the sociocultural and political realm with the intention of effecting integration and engendering the beloved community . The article concludes with some reflections on agape, wondering if it is an impossible dream for those who are not Kings, and where that leaves those of us who are committed to the principle and practice of love.