Michael Novak: Democracy & Religion in America

Great piece by Michael Novak at NRO today. Its driven by an analysis of Alexis de Tocqueville's own view of our country. The third paragraph is a kicker:

"Tocqueville began with a shocker: That the first political institution of American democracy is religion. His thesis went something like this: The premises of secular materialism do not sustain democracy, but undermine it, while the premises of Judaism and Christianity include and by inductive experience lead to democracy, uplift it, carry it over its inherent weaknesses, and sustain it."

Wow. I wonder what the Internet Infidels think of that? Stupid question... I already know.