MLK 2.0? The Canonization of Charlie Kirk | David L. Gray

In this provocative episode, David L. Gray examines the cultural canonization of Charlie Kirk following his death, and the striking comparisons to Martin Luther King Jr. What happens when political grief becomes a religious ritual? When martyrdom becomes marketing? And when movements sanctify their leaders instead of scrutinizing them? (Watch on YouTube)

David unpacks the emotional, theological, and historical layers behind the viral reaction—from social media tributes to calls for sainthood—and asks: are we building a new political priesthood? Drawing on postwar moral frameworks, civil rights history, and the psychology of communal identity, this monologue challenges listeners to mourn without mythologizing and to seek truth over tribalism.

Regardless of your political views, this episode invites you to think more deeply about how we process grief, elevate figures, and shape the moral framework of our time.