What I Believed Side Tracked Christianity

Just from what I have read over the years and my own intuitive sense I feel that Constantine's need to unify his empire and power was the pivital point where we "lost" the sense of Christian Spirituality and the "church" became the political power broker.   Constantine directed the Council of Nicea to come up with one Religion.  The Church felt that God could only come through their Bishops and Priests while the Gnostics believe God was felt within.  
Empress Helena, the Emperor's mother "found" many of the Christian artifacts on her tourist trip to Jerusalem conveniently backing up her son's authority.

Gnostic Christians
 The Gnostic scriptures are so important because they reveal that many early Christians believed Christ's intent was different from what became "Christianity."  Christ did not preach a set of beliefs.  Gnostics did not believe his intent was to establish a Church, led only by males, that could dictate rules for faith and morality.  His intent was not to establish Christianity as a political power to condemn others or to become a state religion.  But that is exactly what happened.  The early Orthodox Church, which was blessed by Constantine, literally set forth and defined Christianity as believing doctrines that their Church said were the only true teachings of Jesus and his Apostles.
Gnostic Christianity emphasized one's experience and personal connection to Christ through what they called "gnosis."
http://gnosticschristians.com/page2.html

Early Christianity, Arius at the Council of Nicea
http://www.earlychristianhistory.net/nicaea.html
Empress Helena - Constantine's Mother
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_(Empress)

A large number of other claimed relics of Jesus continue to be displayed throughout the world. A good number of these relics involve the journey of Saint Helena of Constantinople, the mother of Constantine the Great to Palestine in the fourth century to gather relics.
...regarding the Holy Nails brought back by Saint Helena...
...stairs from Pontius Pilate's praetorium, ascended by Jesus during his trial were also reportedly brought to Rome by Saint Helena...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_associated_with_Jesus

Helena played a significant role in re-establishing Christianity in the Holy Land after a period of decline. She allegedly rediscovered several Christian sites in the Holy Land, which had been converted to pagan temples, and she had these sites rededicated to Christianity.
According to the western Christian tradition, Helena acquired the Holy Tunic on her trip to Jerusalem...
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Helena_of_Constantinople

Invention of the Holy Cross - Feast of the Holy Cross-found by Helena