Your radical ideas about religion as a mechanism of social control have already occurred to others (idea)

It is worth pointing out that the fact that a religion can be/is a control mechanism says absolutely nothing about the veracity of a given religion or whether it is good or bad.

Perhaps rephrasing the statement can help you see what I mean.

Instead of
Religion is a mechanism of social control.
Try
The Media is a mechanism of social control.
or
Government is a mechanism of social control.