"...the need for power and control over others..."

I suspect you are right.  I wonder how much the gentle message of Jesus to love God and neighbor got twisted around and made into this harsh set of rules and dogmas resulted from the involvement with Constantine.  I wonder if the simply faith was distorted by  trying to force it into a mold suitable to the way Roman gods were understood.  Of course, I also wonder if it could have survived if it hadn't become the religion of emperors.  

Just musings....