“I Have Never Been a Religious Bigot”

Dr. King received criticism in 1961 after making statements about America “rising to the heights of a Democratic and Christian nation.” He was accused of condemning other religions and asserting a national organized religion. Again, King responded beautifully. In his reply to a letter from a Mr. M. Bernard Resnikoff, he stated that his intended meaning was America’s need to strive for the “heights of noble ethical and moral principles” as demonstrated by Christ. King makes a significant distinction between organized Christianity and a manner of living that is true to Christ, nothing that they are not always one and the same.