How has the image of a particular religion changed?

I have always figured that different sects have had different histories. In other words, the way one sect evolves over time causes it to gain a particular image. Not necessarily good or bad, but a particular image. For example, I saw a documentary that claimed that the Vatican used to be more political than religious. But the media doesn't just report on the Vatican. It reports on all Christianity. So now the question is, how has the image of Christianity changed over time. Same question goes for Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and other religions.<br><br>Edit: The reason I said "particular religion" is because there are generally more different sects of Christianity than Judaism. I'm wondering how sects influence the overall religion's image.