Departures of the faithful can lead to ruthless internal violence and can easily destroy a group, especially if it is operating clandestinely and under pressure from the police: such struggles expose the group to potential betrayal by former insiders, cast doubt on those who were close to the dissident, and undercut its ideology by demonstrating that some adherents have turned against it. Maintaining the loyalty of members becomes a top priority, since a clash of legitimacies may be hindered by any evidence of loss of faith.
