Was Christianity started to control the masses and dictate poltical agendas

[Brian37]

I have always felt this to be true. I do know that this is a very common theme I have heard and read as well. That religion was created to control people and the proper way to do that was to use the deterrents of hell and a vengeful God. I do know the Catholic church really grasped onto this. For instance, they did not allow regular people to read the bible; only priests could. Was this to keep out all the stuff they did not want the masses to see? What are your thoughts?

I wouldn't single out one religion. Most humans hold a religion worldwide. As long as humans hold religions those groups will always attempt to influence politics. You cant get a Tibet Buddhist to agree on politics with a Chinese or Japanese Buddhist either. Just like you cant get a Sunni and Shiite to agree on how a government should be run.

Politicians throughout worldwide history have always pandered to one group or another. You wont force any religion out of existence, to try would make one a monster. The best humans can do, and seem to do better in the west, is to insist on equal protection, common law. 

I wouldn't put it like that. Christianity came first, using it as a political tool came later when the powers saw it becoming popular.

All religions start the same way, as a form of competition, nothing divine about that. Humans see old ways, don't like the old ways, and take bits and pieces of old motifs and create new characters. Everyone loves a hero story.

Islam and Christianity and Jews all stem from the same central God of Abraham. But even the Jews "Hebrews", took their Yahweh character from older Canaanite polytheism. In that "El", was the head God of a divine family and Yahweh was his "elohim" a lesser deity.

Even when you compare older Hinduism to Buddhism, and see the close proximity to India where Buddhism started, and you see the overlap such as Karma and reincarnation it  is obvious someone was borrowing older motifs.

Even the Rasta religion is simply a spin off of African/Christian/Jewish roots.

It should not surprise anyone that if 2,000 years from now we saw a Star Wars religion, or Star Trek religion, if L. Ron Hubbard, a si fi writer can concoct a religion don't scoff at the idea.

Politicians do find religion useful yes, but that is not a Christian only patent. Humans seek power and as long as humans do they will pander to those who give them support. The same can be said of a political party, economic view too, not just religion.