the ranks Allow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions The classical example of a church by this definition is the Catholic Church, especially in the past, such as the State church of the Roman Empire. Islam is a church in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, where there is no separation of church and state. The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia states: "[The Constitution of Saudi Arabia is] God's Book [the Qur'an] and the Sunnah of His Prophet [Muhammad]". These nations are ruled under an official interpretation of religious law (Salafi in the case of Saudi Arabia), and the religious law predominates the legal system. Saudi Arabia, however, lacks Johnstone's criteria for an ordained clergy and a strictly hierarchical structure; however, it has the ulema and their Senior Council with the exclusive power of issuing fatwa, as well as fiqh jurisprudence through the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta. In the Shi'a denominations, there is a professional clergy led by a Grand Ayatollah. A slight modification of the church type is that of ecclesia. Ecclesias include the above characteristics of ,churches with the exception that they are generally less successful at garnering absolute adherence among all of the members of the society and are not the sole religious body. The state churches of some European nations would fit this type. Denominations The denomination lies between the church and the sect on the continuum. Denominations come into existence when churches lose their religious monopoly in a society. A denomination is one religion among many. When churches or sects become denominations, there are also some changes in their characteristics. Johnstone provides the following eight characteristics of denominations: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at times maintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralism rely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some actively pursue evangelization accept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and dispute follow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expression train and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certification accept