Based upon a series of detailed case studies of associations such as early synagogues and churches, philosophical schools and pagan mystery cults, this collection addresses the question of what can be termed a voluntary association. `the editors of the current volume are to be complimented for facilitating and making public these important contributions to our knowledge of social organizations and alternatives in the Hellenistic world..both in terms of historical desription and in terms of social theory` - Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 1999