Disclaimer: Most of the group resource information was submitted by former members, academics, experts, and concerned individuals. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Freedom of Mind. We welcome any feedback. Contact Us
| Names(s) |
|---|
The Family International
The Family
The Family of Love
Teens for Christ
The Children of God
COG
| Founder |
|---|
David Berg aka Moses David, Mo, Father David, Dad, Grandpa
| Leader(s) |
|---|
Karen Zerby aka Mama Maria, Queen Maria, Maria David or Maria Fontaine
Steven Douglas Kelly aka Peter Amsterdam, King Peter
| Group Description |
|---|
Headquarters location: Rome, Italy
The Family International is a cult which was founded in Huntington Beach, California, US in 1968. It was originally named Teens for Christ and it later gained notoriety as The Children of God. It was later renamed and reorganized as The Family of Love, which was eventually shortened to The Family. Wikipedia
| Group Websites |
|---|
http://wwrn.org/ (especially dangerous; purports to be an independent news site about religions and cults)
| Critical Websites |
|---|
Singers Letter to President Clinton
*Something Somebody Stole: book by a former member:* “The Children of God” were one of the most radical groups of Jesus Freaks spawned during the sixties. They later morphed into a headline grabbing cult known as “The Family” known for strange mixture of evangelism, doomsday prophecies and unusual sexual practices taught by their founder, David Berg. This book is the story of one person’s journey into the movement, several decades of life within the movement, and the struggle to find a path to recovery in the decades since. The author spent over 20 years in the group (much of it in leadership positions), living in over 20 countries, while parenting 17 children with 2 remarkable women. Through personal reflection and reference to a great deal of research into thought reform and spiritual abuse, the author offers insight into the world of cults, and sheds light on the issues encountered upon leaving a totalistic group. There is a particular effort made to examine issues of personal responsibility and spiritual recovery. One reader comments “informative and entertaining, refreshing in its honesty… not what one comes to expect from a former cult member, and ultimately a message of hope in the midst of difficulty and tragedy. Rich spiritual wisdom available regardless of whether readers have been involved in a cult or not.”