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Use comparative ethnographic examples to discuss
how religion functions as a means of social control and
social change.
Throughout history, religions of all cultures have shaped society in one way or another. We know the
positives a religious belief can bring; feelings of hope, love, and forgiveness, but religion has left a
dark side in its past. Certain religions have compiled lists to control social behaviour, such as ‘The
Seven Deadly Sins’ or ‘The Ten Commandments’ which contain severe consequences should a
person break these rules. Misuse of religious influence can also be seen in different historical events,
such as the Northern Crusades in Europe or the Salem Witch trials of 1692 in America. Using
persuasion, fear and sometimes hatred, there is clear ethnographical evidence that religion has
influenced social control and social change around the world.
In terms of religious laws, certain faiths believe that obeying the ten commandments and avoiding the
seven deadly sins is essential for obtaining eternal life. ‘Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked,
“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”…Jesus replied. “There is only One who is
good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”’ (The Bible, Matthew 19:16-17). This
means, that should you obey the 10 commandments, you will obtain eternal life in heaven. It is
believed that God created these laws as they reflect his thinking. For Jews, as well as Christians, the
ten commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai in Egypt to become the foundational
standards by which all values were to be judged and by which the identity of the people was to be
defined. Sins have always been popular areas of focus in the church. The seven deadly sins, also
known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, is a grouping of vices within Christian teachings.
According to the bible, they are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth; and have a list of
virtues that correlate with them; a ‘do’s and don’ts’ of life. An early 2nd century document, the Didache,
contained a list of five sins to avoid throughout your lifetime. A Hellenistic scholar, Origen, added to
this list and at the end of the 4th century Cassian, a Christian monk amended it again. Finally, in the
