Interesting that you used the word "fuel" to describe how they like the attention and power.
I have been reading a lot about narcissism lately- what it is (extreme lack of the ability to have empathy, undeveloped personality, cluster B disorder etc) and what it is not (loud, annoying, or selfish people necessarily) and that word "fuel" or "narcissistic supply" is so accurate.
So just as religion can be a pedophile heaven for its ready supply of trusting young people and their parents, religion can also be a ready source of compliant fuel for the narcissist.
Wonderful.
I just read an article about religious narcissists and it basically described most of the elders I ever met. Not all but most.
Great post Stephane, thank you.