Background information and comprehension exercises for "An Experiment in Love"
Notes:
The "movement" King refers to in his opening sentence is the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott of 1955-56.
King's ideas about Christian love are based on "The Sermon on the Mount" in the New Testament
King says at the end of paragraph #2 that "Christ furnished the spirit and motivation" for his movement, "while Gandhi furnished the method."
In Greek, there are three different words for love: eros, philia and agape. Read a Christian discussion of these words as King uses them.
In his final sentence, King refers to different ideas about the power in the universe that "works to bring the disconnected aspects of reality into a harmonious whole." Among these he mentions Brahman, a Hindu God or concept.
Comprehension exercises:
A. King outlines six "basic facts" about nonviolent resistance. Summarize them in one sentence each.
B. King devotes five paragraphs to a discussion of agape. In your own words, briefly explain what this word means.
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