Constantinian Christiananity

In the book, "Democracy Matters," Cornell West describes a theology battle between prophetic Christians and Constantinian Christians that dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. He asserts that much of Christianity in America today is a form of Constantinian Christianity. When Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 C.E. and decriminalized it in 313, the cojoining of church and state became institutionalized. West believes that this began an increasing corruption of the Christian church by state power which is in direct conflict with the teachings of Jesus and Paul. He asserts that this joining of church and state has been behind many of the church's worst transgressions: from the crusades against Jews and Muslims to bigotry against women and blacks (p. 146-149).