One of Dr. King's most complete expressions of his views on church-state issues took place in an interview which few in either religious or political affairs would grant today-- an interview with Playboy Magazine (Jan. 1965) (full text). The interviewer was Alex Haley. When asked about mistakes he had made, King said:
the most pervasive mistake I have made was in believing that because our cause was just, we could be sure that the white ministers of the South, once their Christian consciences were challenged, would rise to our aid.... The projection of a social gospel, in my opinion, is the true witness of a Christian life.... The church once changed society. It was then a thermostat of society. But today I feel that too much of the church is merely a thermometer, which measures rather than molds popular opinion.However, when asked his view of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision striking down school prayer, King said:
I endorse it. I think it was correct. Contrary to what many have said, it sought to outlaw neither prayer nor belief in God. In a pluralistic society such as ours, who is to determine what prayer shall be spoken, and by whom? Legally, constitutionally or otherwise, the state certainly has no such right. I am strongly opposed to the efforts that have been made to nullify the decision. They have been motivated, I think, by little more than the wish to embarrass the Supreme Court.
