Emotion

I can't think of any one area that better prays on people's emotions than religion. Politics does it too, but religion has it perfected. Once you are able to manipulate someone's emotions than you have power. Catholicism has it down to a science. Cults, however, have one up on Catholicism. It's just too bad that they usually don't survive long enough to make much of an impact. Tradition has its ability to manipulate emotions as well. Religion combines tradition, fear and guilt all of which beautifully compliment each other to result in emotional manipulation. Once you have achieved that the rest is easy. The money and power will follow.