- Formerly:
- Children of God, Teens for Christ, The Family of Love, and The Family
- Areas Of Involvement:
- Christianity
- millennialism
The Family International
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What is The Family International?
The Family International is a millenarian Christian communal group that emerged from David Berg's ministry to hippies in California in the late 1960s. Originally known as Teens for Christ and then the Children of God, the group gained attention for its use of sex in missionary work, called "flirty fishing," but later abandoned some of its extreme sexual practices.
The Family is structured around an inner circle of apostles, also known as the Core Group, who hold spiritual authority, and an outer circle of disciples, who form the regular membership. By the start of the 21st century, The Family International had approximately 10,000 members across more than 90 countries.
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When and why was The Family International started?
The Family International, a Christian communal group, emerged from David Berg's ministry to hippies in Huntington Beach, California, in the late 1960s. In 1969, they left California due to Berg's earthquake prediction and reorganized as the Children of God (COG), with Berg becoming known as Moses David. Initially part of the Jesus People revival, they stood out with their belief that Berg was God's "end-time" messenger.
By 1974, most COG members had scattered globally to spread Berg's message. In 1978, the Children of God disbanded and reconstituted as The Family. In 2004, the organization adopted the name The Family International.
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What are the main beliefs of The Family International?
The Family International, emerging from David Berg's 1960s ministry to hippies, centers its beliefs on Christian love rooted in scripture and Berg's prophecies. Originally known as Teens for Christ and then the Children of God, the group gained notoriety for its controversial practice of "flirty fishing," where female members used their sexuality to spread their message.
Over time, The Family International has abandoned some of its more extreme sexual practices. Though the sharing of adult partners within the group continues, child protection rules were instituted, and "flirty fishing" was discontinued. The Family International has about 10,000 members in more than 90 countries.
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What are some controversies or criticisms associated with The Family International?
The Family International, formerly the Children of God, has faced significant controversies and criticisms throughout its history. The group gained notoriety for alleged sexual abuse and child abuse, particularly its use of sex in missionary work, a practice called "flirty fishing." This practice, along with sexual sharing among adults, led to problems such as the spread of herpes and instances of pedophilia within the group.
In the early 1990s, government agencies raided Family members' homes in several countries due to concerns about child welfare. Although extensive investigations found no cases of abuse, the group's past practices remain controversial.
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How has The Family International changed over time, and what is its status today?
The Family International, originating in the late 1960s as Teens for Christ, grew from David Berg's ministry to hippies in California. It evolved into the Children of God (COG), with Berg as their "end-time" messenger. In 1978, COG reorganized into The Family, encouraging unconventional practices like "flirty fishing," which led to sexual activity.
In the 1980s, The Family curtailed these practices, instituting child protection rules and discontinuing "flirty fishing" by 1987. Investigations in the early 1990s found no evidence of abuse. After Berg's death in 1994, his wife Maria succeeded him and introduced the Love Charter. In 2004, the group adopted the name The Family International. As of the early 21st century, it had approximately 10,000 members across more than 90 countries. The organization is structured around an inner circle of "apostles" and an outer circle of "disciples," focusing on leadership development and recruitment in politics and business.
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The Family International, millenarian Christian communal group that grew out of the ministry of David Berg (1919–94) to the hippies who had gathered in Huntington Beach, California, in the late 1960s. It teaches a message of Christian love based on scripture and Berg’s prophecies. The focus of the first anticult organization—the Parents’ Committee to Free Our Children from the Children of God (FREECOG)—it attracted attention for alleged sexual abuse and child abuse, especially for its use of sex in missionary work. The group abandoned some of its more extreme sexual practices and has remained a moderately successful movement with an international presence.
In 1969 the group, then known as Teens for Christ, left California because of Berg’s prediction of a future earthquake. It reorganized as the Children of God (COG), and Berg became known as Moses David. Initially seen as part of the Jesus People revival then sweeping through hippie communities, the Children of God were distinguished by their belief that Berg was God’s “endtime” messenger. In the early 1970s, inspired by his apocalypticism, members of the sect dressed in sackcloth and conducted demonstrations denouncing America’s abandonment of God.
By 1974, in accord with Berg’s goal of creating an organization composed entirely of full-time missionaries, most COG members had scattered throughout the world to live communally and to spread Berg’s message. Berg communicated his teachings through a series of “Mo Letters” (later recast as a periodical, The New Good News). In 1978 he initiated a major reorganization that led the Children of God to disband and reconstitute as The Family. During this same period Berg led his followers to free themselves from sexual inhibitions and taboos. For example, in a practice called “flirty fishing," he encouraged female members to use their feminine charms while witnessing God’s love to lonely men, a tactic that often led to sexual activity. He also encouraged sexual “sharing” among the adults in The Family.
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This sexual activity led to problems in the early 1980s. Most significantly, herpes spread among Family members, and pedophiles within the group preyed upon the children. In 1983 and over the next several years, the group began to curtail this sexual activity. Child protection rules were instituted, and in 1987 flirty fishing was discontinued. The sharing of adult partners within the group continues and remains The Family’s most distinctive and controversial practice.
In the early 1990s the homes of Family members in several countries were raided by government agencies concerned about child welfare. However, extensive investigations discovered no cases of abuse; The Family had seemingly rid itself of this objectionable activity.
Berg died in 1994 and was succeeded by his wife, Maria. The following year she introduced the Love Charter, a constitution spelling out rights and responsibilities for Family members. In 2004 the organization adopted its present name. At the start of the 21st century, The Family International had about 10,000 members in more than 90 countries, making it the most successful communal group to emerge from the 1960s counterculture era.