When the early Roman church got power they forced people to convert by the sword. They banned medicine, dentistry, mathematics, science, many books, schools and even reading and writing except by the clergy. When they started losing the power over the masses then they began to change. They created schools to ensure Catholicism would be taught. After the reformation Christianity began to become a more compassionate faith.

The separation of church and state in the US was the first challenge to forced donations and control of the government by the clergy. The French revolution was about not only about the oppressive control the nobility had but also the church who also had oppressive control and both supported each other.

Many churches have done many good things too. We really don't know that much about faiths before Christianity since most of what was, was destroyed. A lot of propaganda was spread to discredit earlier faiths and sometimes it is hard to separate fact from fiction. Of course there are many thieves in any religion doing good works only to enrich themselves just as many business do. True charity has nothing to do with big business administration and advertising budgets.

What does "in my house there are many mansions" mean to you? To me it says there is no one way to God. God is not an easily insulted dictator.