I think you are confused. Money is not power. In fact the most powerfull man ever had little more worldly belongings than a tunic.
I said money is power.
I did not say that money is the ONLY form of power.
There is no doubt, by the way, that rich and powerful humans have fostered religious beliefs and have influenced religious leaders, all as a way to keep the lower classes compliant to the wishes of the upper classes.
This need not conflict with an individual's belief in his religion.
I'd be hard pressed to think of a religion that has not admitted to some degree having once gone astray from the influence of powerful interests.
Think of Henry VIII's making himself head of the church in England.
Think of the whole protestant movement as a rebellion against the influence of wealth on the Catholic leaders in Rome.
History is replete with examples.
Think of Hammurabi recieving the tablets of laws from the Sun God--an example of convincing people that these are the laws they must follow; that there must be no debate, because the Sun God made these laws (not the rich and powerful), and that is that.
A useful device for governing.