They want to go back to the life led under the Pharos.

They need a population of 500 million, so their small number can control it.

I'm not religious, so I tend to view all this pragmatically.

Seems to me, the organization Jesus began, bears no resemblance to the one we see today.

But, centuries of kings and bishops scratching each others backs and, the advent of printing - and editing - makes that hardly a surprise.

Corruption happens over along period of time, so the population does not notice it, and accepts each new change as it is implemented.

One thing Rome did that no other ancient civilizations did, was, whatever country Rome conquered, it allowed the people to continue worshipping as they had. All Rome required, was that a statue if the current Emperor, be erected in a temple, and given due attention, instead of force converting the conquered to their religion, and creating a seething cauldron of hate, waiting to boil over as a result.