ABSTRACT
Although reference has been made to several actual new religious movements which it was felt best exemplified the analytical types, it should be remembered that, in fact, all the empirical cases lie somewhere within the conceptual space bounded by the characteristics of each type. That is, all actual new religious movements are likely to combine elements of each type to some extent. It is none the less possible to identify movements that exhibit the characteristics of one more sharply than another, and this has been done in the preceding chapters. It is also possible and useful to identify a range of movements, more clearly occupying the middle ground between the types, which possess particular characteristics in virtue of the orientations they combine, and some of which had a special role to play in the context of the collapse of the counter-culture. These latter movements include the Divine Light Mission, the followers of Meher Baba, and those of the Yogi Bhajan in the Healthy-Happy-Holy organisation, as well as large sections of the Jesus People. They combine in varying degrees elements of all three types, and more particularly elements of the conventional society and the counter-culture. Thus, while they may sometimes adopt a communal life-style, they may also encourage members to take, or to retain, ‘respectable’ jobs in conventional society. While their religious beliefs and practices may be regarded as unorthodox, these movements characteristically forbid or discourage sexual relations between unmarried members and the use of drugs. They often have a rather conservative political philosophy (cf. Gregg, 1973 on a Jesus People group for example).
