Is religion the best proven business model for success?

[Anomalocaris]

The Catholic Church is the oldest, richest, most powerful, most non productive industry in all of human history.

So yes, it does appear to be quite an effective business model.

Not sure it is the most nonproductive industry in human history.  Catholic Monks and nuns sometimes grew their own food, ran their own crafts and industry, and copied non-religious manuscripts. Catholic Church actually runs a world class astronomical observatory in Arizona from which respectable scientific papers emanate.

Buddhist Clergy are actually prohibited by religious stricture from performing any productive work such as cooking, much less growing, food. Nor can they dabble in any pursuit that would provide insight into any thing other than their own navels.