Membership- Highly exclusive with strong boundries between themselves and society. They exclude those deemed "unworthy". They earn membership by personal merit and draw a distinct line between members and non members.
Organisation- Lack a professional clergy and complex hierarchy. They depend on the God given talents of it's members.
Worship and ritual- There is little use of ritual and worship and tend to be emotional, expressive and spontaneous. Tend to cry out when the spirit takes them e.g. "Praise the Lord"
Sense of Legitimacy- Claim to have the monopoly of truth and claim to be the only true religion. Look forward to events of great significance, e.g. Armageddon, as memebers are encouraged to think themselves "elite" with salvation reserved for them alone.
Relation to wider society- Critical of wider society and expect members to stand apart from it. Contact with non-members is discouraged except to convert them.
Involvement and commitment- Demand high standards of commitment and behaviour from members. Members spare tieme is spent in sectarian activities e.g. Bible study. Members who don't meet standards are expelled or punished.
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