Those who promised to work every day of their lives to reach the afterlife they desired, because they were afraid of death. Death in my opinion is one of the most influential factors in society. The belief in a good afterlife if you work hard is what Max Weber theorized as a driving factor in the American work ethic and the foundation of capitalism. People's beliefs about death and dying are very important to their culture and lifestyle, and it may be offensive to question these beliefs. That's why it's incredibly important to be aware of how others view death and not make assumptions based on race, language, or culture..