First of all, I am very glad to hear that you are a Christian, because I sincerely believe that that can be something very positive in your life. I believe that it's important to live life in a positive way.

And I definitely do not wish to try to "convert" you back to Maharaji - and nor do I imagine I would be able to. But perhaps - just perhaps - I might be able to clarify a few misunderstandings you may have about Maharaji, and perhaps you might not view him quite so negatively.

Also, to be quite precise about me leaving Christianity, I just want to make it clear that I left Christianity - particularly Catholicism - at the age of about 14. I received Knowledge at the age of 20, and since then I have become more sympathetic towards Christianity - particularly liberal Christianity - and, by a very liberal definition of "Christianity", I could even describe myself as a "Christian". This may seem strange to some people here, but it becomes very apparent to me when, for example, I attend Christian services, such as funerals, and discover that I am much more positively in agreement with the sentiments expressed there, than are many of my friends and relatives who were brought up in the same religion. When I hear someone such as, for example, Terry Waite (the Archbishop of Cantebury's representative who was taken hostage in Beirut about 10 or more years ago) speak about religious issues, I tend to be in complete agreement. So, certainly I think Christianity can be something very positive and helpful in people's lives, and hopefully it is, and will continue to be, in your life.

(And by the way, when I decided I wanted to receive Knowledge, in 1974, I had to travel to Dublin, and I stayed there for a few days at that time, and I was given accommodation by two middle-aged married premies, who were both practicing Catholics, who went to mass every Sunday, and each morning I was there. And they were, and continued to be, both practicing Catholics and practicing premies.)

The other thing I want to say quickly - which I can expand upon when I have more time - is that I totally agree with what you say about how you did not go to the police about your abuse. Anyone who in any way blames you for not going to the police about the abuse you were suffering, simply does not understand what it is like to be in that situation. I am male, by the way. I never even dreamt or considered going to the police about the abuse I suffered, never mind actually going to the police. I never reported it or mentioned it in any way to ANY adult. It was only many years later, 20 years later when I felt able to be open about it to SOME adults whom I trusted, when I was long since an adult myself. I have only ever read one post by POV - just today (to which I "wholeheartedly agreed") - but if POV is attcking you because you didn't go to the police, then I think he should apologise to you, and admit that he doesn't understand what it is like to be in that kind of situation. I do not know POV, and perhaps I might agree with him on a lot of thing, but if what you say about him is accurate, then he is definitely wrong on this issue. It is definitely NOT reasonable to suggest that the 15- year-old you "would go to the police instead of trying to tell M."