[aron]

This group I joined is generally referred to as "the Local Churches,'' by those who have heard of it who are outside the group. Those inside refer to themselves "the Lord's Recovery'' or "the church'' most often, although they claim they won't take a name. Perhaps that irony says more than a name ever could.

People join this type of group for various reasons, but they're always seeking something. Some need cause to strive for, a truth, to give their lives meaning and purpose; perhaps they are attracted to a warm, caring, stable community; or maybe it's a group of people who share one's own values. These are legitimate human needs, and a religion is a traditional means to fill these desires. I entered ``the church'' in my senior year of high school, and when I went to Berkeley for college, I entered the "the church life'' in full step, baptized just before I left.

I left my senior year of college, without much fanfare. I didn't tell anyone explicitly that I was leaving "the church'' until I was gone, because I was still unsure of whether I really would until I was actually in Boston. I didn't want to cause a stir by my departure--- many of my friends considered me "solid in the church life,'' and I didn't want to let them down, or worse, disrupt their faith.

I do not intend to say much about the church's doctrine--- I believe that the fundamentals of their faith are truly Christian, even if some details are suspect. I suppose it's a question of zeal and motive as to whether you want to declare specific doctrines heretical. I do not agree with the assessment of Mr. Moran, who strikes me as forcing his own interpretations onto Witness Lee's teachings to prove his point. I certainly would never have agreed with many the doctrines he criticizes the church for holding, in public or private. On the other hand, Witness Lee always made it easy to misinterpret his teachings, by applying analogies much too freely.