Generalizing Marxism

[JAH23]

In my course on comparative government, my instructor briefly summed up Marxism as:

-rule by intellectual elite
-no democracy
-no religion

While I agree Marxism advocates "no religion", I have a hard time with the other two generalizations. Marxism/communism is often taught with extreme disdain in high schools, but what are your thoughts on this summary of Marxism?

[Kléber]

Marxism is a form of revolutionary socialism (that is, an ideology advocating democratic seizure of the means of production by the working class) that is distinguished from other forms of revolutionary socialism by two things:

1) The political independence of the working class (a vanguard party)
2) The international unity of the working class (proletarian internationalism)

Marxists advocate rule by the working class, the productive masses whose labor generates all wealth. The distinction between "intellectuals" and "non-intellectuals" can and should be abolished. Every member of society is capable of understanding his or her place in society, deserves a full university education, and should be considered eligible to take up any leadership responsibilities that exist. Even if we have different ways to get there, Marxists agree with anarchists that we should work towards political equality and the abolition of government altogether.

Democracy is at the core of all socialist thinking, Marxism included. There can be no socialism without democracy.. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, have all clarified this point. Socialism is a democratically-run monetary economy where productive property belongs to the working people. Capitalism, on the other hand, is economic dictatorship: the reign of unaccountable corporations.

Marxists do not believe in forcing people to give up religion. Religion is a personal matter. You don't have to be an atheist to agree with the class struggle.