ABSTRACT
Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest prophets of nonviolence in US history and the most significant interpreter of Gandhianism for many Americans. King successfully adapted the Gandhian method to the US civil rights movement and changed the course of history. King's reading of Gandhi was essential to his intellectual formation and the development of his thinking on nonviolent action. Ironically, Gandhi helped restore his belief in the power of Christian love. Like so many others, King saw Christ's message of love as pertaining primarily to interpersonal relationships. While King was influenced by Gandhi, the fundamental inspiration for his commitment to nonviolence came from the Gospel. He saw nonviolence and the commandment to love as the essential core of Christ's teaching. He considered the Gandhian method of nonviolence one of the most potent weapons available to an oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.
