What accounts for the survival and global spread of Christianity?

[KY_EnviroGuy]

15. The most useful tool for politics along with a strong military

Thanks for your very cool essay, MineralMan. Perfect summary of what I had to learn the hard way in my younger years, getting that painful divorce from religion after being neck-deep in it for years. As some others have mentioned, Constantinople co-opting was the first giant step for Christianity's growth as it began it's spread through Europe. It's always been a useful tool to keep the sheeple at bay.

Arguably, it may have actually helped America a bit to struggle through our formative years, as there was much pain from which to escape.
After watching it now for around 60 years, Christianity in my view is now slowly dying. Some of the first death kneels I noticed was co-opting with the Republicans in the 70s and the appearance of Prosperity Gospel teachings, both of which would have been considered heresy just 50 years ago. It's now just an escape mechanism, universal alibi, and political tool to escape the truths about greed, desire to have power over others and free practice of all the "seven deadly sins", LOL.

In summary, looking around the globe, what's not to like, so say the dictators, plutocrats, oligarchs, tyrants, despots, monarchs and autocrats!