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In [[Protestantism]] a truly religious life is defined as distinct from the outward form of any kind of formal, institutionally organized religion, but not necessarily opposed to it, as being directed to God by means of the [[Five Solas]], without any necessity of belonging to a [[convent]] or [[monastery]]. Protestant communities of like-minded believers have formed for mutual support and encouragement, such as the [[Amish]], [[Hutterites]] and the [[Conservative Mennonites]], and colonies of [[Puritans]]. Those communities governed by a chief [[pastor]] and [[Oligarchy|senior leadership committees and boards of directors]] who regulated religious and social practice often resembled [[Middle Ages#General Notes|medieval]] monasteries and those communities that grew up around them in the centuries preceding the [[Protestant Reformation]]. Their descendants today believe as they did, that to belong to Christ as a member of His Body, is to be obligated in thanksgiving to God to live the devoutly religious life that He has revealed in the Bible, with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and that it is impossible to do more than that; so that vows are not needed, except as a  [[Motivation|psychological help]] to remaining faithful by a [[contract]] of formal promise of commitment to do what the Christian is already bound to do as a true believer committed to God, a promise which is generally regarded as redundant, a rather silly addition to the life of a Christian, making a distinction which can unfortunately provoke a sense of [[elitism]]. See [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] chapters 12 and 13.

In [[Protestantism]] a truly religious life is defined as distinct from the outward form of any kind of formal, institutionally organized religion, but not necessarily opposed to it, as being directed to God by means of the [[Five Solas]], without any necessity of belonging to a [[convent]] or [[monastery]]. Protestant communities of like-minded believers have formed for mutual support and encouragement, such as the [[Amish]], [[Hutterites]] and the [[Conservative Mennonites]], and colonies of [[Puritans]]. Those communities governed by a chief [[pastor]] and [[Oligarchy|senior leadership committees and boards of directors]] who regulated religious and social practice often resembled [[Middle Ages#General Notes|medieval]] monasteries and those communities that grew up around them in the centuries preceding the [[Protestant Reformation]]. Their descendants today believe as they did, that to belong to Christ as a member of His Body, is to be obligated in thanksgiving to God to live the devoutly religious life that He has revealed in the Bible, with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and that it is impossible to do more than that; so that vows are not needed, except as a  [[Motivation|psychological help]] to remaining faithful by a [[contract]] of formal promise of commitment to do what the Christian is already bound to do as a true believer committed to God, a promise which is generally regarded as redundant, a rather silly addition to the life of a Christian, making a distinction which can unfortunately provoke a sense of [[elitism]]. See [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] chapters 12 and 13.

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