FUBAR
An interesting comment but certainly has not been my experience. The church today and at the time of Jesus was the "people" themselves. It was and is the people that select their leadership and decide on how to spend money etc. This is not to deny there are charlatans out there for there most certainly is.
It is interesting to note that empires have come and gone many times over and the world's great faiths continue to exist and practice. They have not disappeared with the empire.
In the case of Rome its imperial theology was very much tied up with the political aspects as Caesar was Lord, God, God from God, Saviour of the world, Son of God etc.
Rome was, of course, very smart in that instead of changing the religions of those it conquered it incorporated them in one way or another thus not turning the people against itself.
Shalom
Ted
Yes, Rome was declared a republic between 600 BCE and 501 BCE.