"Let us not be deceived: the great dramatic battle of the twenty-first century is the dismantling of empire and the deepening of democracy. This is as much or more a colossal fight over visions and ideas as a catastrophic struggle over profits and missiles. Globalization is inescapable; the question is whether it will be democratic globalization or a U.S. led corporate globalization (with thin democratic rhetoric). This is why what we think, how we care, and the way we fight mean so much now in democracy matters."(22)

I believe that much of the church, sadly, has aligned itself against deep democratic principles, and has become empire-minded, confusing the U.S.'s material success (and often individuals' success) for God's blessing.

On that note, I'd like to highly recommend the book that the above quote is taken from -
Democracy Matters by Cornell West. West is a well-known professor of African-American studies at Princeton. The above quote is from near the beginning of the book. I was taken aback by the following quote, near the end of the book, with its evangelistic nature and deep truth. Who would have thought that a book could remain on the NY Times Bestseller list for so long while proclaiming Jesus so purely without being aimed at the religious right?

"My philosophy of democracy is deeply shaped by that particular Jew named Jesus who put the love of God and neighbor at the core of his vision of justice and his deeds of compassion. His vision of a just future consoles those who cry and his deeds of compassion comfort those who shed tears. His loving gift of ministry, grace, and death under the rule of nihilistic imperial elites enacts divine compassion and justice in human flesh. The ultimate Christian paradox of God crucified in history under the Roman empire is that the love and justice that appear so weak may be strong, that seem so foolish may be wise, and that strike imperial elites as easily disposable may be inescapably indispensable."

Much of the church has forgotten the connections between democracy and Christianity.