We believed that this perfect way was given us by God and that we were his chosen people. Whether or not members of other religions could go to heaven was a matter of hushed debate. Hushed debate, indeed, was the only accepted form of discussion. We were to model ourselves upon the example of Christ, and He behaved as a humble man, the Lamb of God. As far as we knew, this was a continuation of the church that had always been.

I grew up in a religion that didn't have a name. At least, that's what we said. We called it "The Truth" amongst ourselves.

The Truth, though its name sounds ominous, isn't really a cult, but more of a sect* — a subdivision of modern protestantism.

It's easy to see why we didn't use this name outside of the church. It does sound ominous. Or, — when you know and consider the size of the church — maybe just heavyhanded.

This particular name, and the way that we had to be discreet about it, helped to foster a kind of secrecy about the church, when we were around "outsiders."

I believe this helped — along with the loss of the church's history — to develop a sense of unity and separation that was out of proportion relative to the church's real influence in the wider world. It made the church seem more powerful than it otherwise might. And its mysteriousness reinforced our belief that the church was distinct.

But, in consideration of the broader Christian tradition, a belief in "unique trueness" is far from unique; it's not even unusual. Followers of many Christian religions believe that their particular narrow practice is exclusively right.

The so-called namelessness of The Truth is an oddity, but even that is not unique. There are other "non-denominational" Christian churches. It is a compelling part of the equation — why would God name his church, if it were instituted from the beginning and a part of all that is holy?

But it is an illusion, however compelling when you're in the middle of it.

The Truth has a unique form, and some unusual features. But it is not singular, and it is not as isolated from the world as its members may think. That's the good news, or the disappointment — depending on how you look at it. For me, it's been liberation.

Return to "more of a sect" ...

* If "The Truth" were as unusual as its members believe(d), it would be a cult (unless it really was the One True Church, in which case all other definitions would be irrelevant.)

However, "The Truth" may not be as abnormal as it seems; no more uniquely untrue than uniquely true.

The Truth is unusual in the fact that it is a small religion whose precepts include its unique truthfulness. (The Catholic church claims that same mantle; but that organization is ancient, massive, rich, and powerful.)

The task of labeling The Truth as either "sect" or "cult" may be challenging, for those who seek a proper application of Biblical teachings.

However, for the more skeptically-inclined, the world's religions great and small may begin to seem a bit like the old expression about families — they're all a little weird.