New Modern Religious Movements (NRM) have existed since the turn of the 19th century. Today, there are serious NRMs and still others that might just be the fad of the moment. . . like the hem with little personal commitment. Britannica defines NRM as "the generally accepted term for what is sometimes called, often with pejorative connotations, a 'cult.' The term new religious movement has been applied to all new faiths that have emerged around the world in recent centuries. NRMs may have a single origin or be an offshoot of a more traditional religion and are therefore considered distinct. Molloy, on page 498, discusses the four characteristics of NRMs. The first trait he mentions is the size of the organization, which is relatively small. Small groups tend to attract people seeking affirmation and identity. Participants feel like they belong and have a purpose within the group. Smaller groups also tend to function better as social networks, which, in turn, creates stronger bonds. The second common trait, highlighted by Molloy, is that women play a greater role in NRM than in many traditional religions where they often have no role. formal status. NRMs have attracted women because in many organizations gender is undervalued, giving women the opportunity to move into leadership positions. In other groups, femininity and masculinity are reinforced and recognized from a cosmic perspective requiring the NRM to train female leaders "reflecting the feminine nature of the divine or the importance of the feminine principle in the functioning of the universe”. Women may also find NRMs attractive because they seem to want to focus on individual growth and development, while at the same time... middle of article ......e on page 356. He states that NRM scriptures have much less structural and genre variety than traditional scripts. This can be another appealing contemporary element since they were written in modern times and can relate to today's world. Interestingly, Van Voorst also points out about the Scriptures that while they are an important way to encounter MNRs, they are also "as numerous, varied, and often as controversial as the movements that publish them." Survival depends on one's ability to adapt to change, and NRMs are no exception. Although the NRMs were founded in modern times, these times will also change. Molloy (p 522) comments that change is always difficult and that adaptation to change rarely occurs without debate, misperception or discomfort. New NRMs will always be trained to withstand an ever-changing world.