Even though Dr. King was a Baptist minister and his history-altering speeches about civil liberties are saturated with references to natural rights and profound theological constructs, none of the 14 quotes carefully etched into his stone monument contain references to God.
For the Founders, the idea of natural rights was always anchored in the Creator or God. Morality surely was important but it alone wasn't sufficient to keep man away from his natural state. So thought George Washington:
And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Another point to ponder (which also makes Blackwell's case on the secularization of King) is the transformation from Rev. King to Dr. King in recent years. Consider that years ago not everyone who received a doctorate was grouped together as Ph.D.'s.
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