This is the first major study of the enigmatic religious society. By examining the Jehovah's Witnesses' dramatic recent expansion, Andrew Holden reveals the dependency of their quasi-totalitarian movement on the physical and cultural resources have brought about the privatization of religion, the erosion of community, and the separation of 'fact' from faith. '... a thoughtful book that takes the Witnesses' own beliefs and words seriously.' - Publishers Weekly 'It is a clear, accurate, well-constructed, high-quality academic, sociological analysis of a modern millenarian movement ... The author is a skilled and experienced sociologist, and this book is an example of the clearest writing and the best research that can be produced by this important academic discipline.' - The Revd Thaddeus Birchard, Church Times Andrew Holden (PH.D) has taught sociology at various levels of further and higher education. He has been conducting fieldwork on millenarian belief systems for over a decade.