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== History == === The Children of God (1968–1977) === The founder of the movement, David Brandt Berg (1919–1994), was a former [[Christian and Missionary Alliance]] pastor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.davidberg.org/mission/history |title=History – Mission |website=DavidBerg.org |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822171609/http://www.davidberg.org/mission/history |url-status=live }}</ref> Berg started in 1968 as an evangelical preacher with a following of "born-again hippies" who gathered at a coffeehouse in [[Huntington Beach]], in [[Orange County, California]]. In 1969, after having a revelation "that California would be hit by a major earthquake", he left Huntington Beach and "took his followers on the road".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> They would [[proselytism|proselytize]] in the streets and distribute pamphlets. Leaders within The Children of God (COG) were referred to as ''The Chain''. Members of COG founded [[commune (intentional community)|communes]], first called colonies (now referred to as homes), in various cities. Berg communicated with his followers by writing letters. He published nearly 3,000 letters over a period of 24 years, referred to as the ''Mo Letters''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidberg.org/mission|title=The Man – Mission|website=DavidBerg.org|access-date=2016-08-13|archive-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220045437/http://www.davidberg.org/mission|url-status=live}}</ref> In a letter written in January 1972, Berg stated that he was God's prophet for the contemporary world, attempting to further solidify his spiritual authority within the group. Berg's letters also contained public acknowledgement of his own failings and weaknesses,<ref>{{cite book |last=Chancellor |first=James |year=2000 |title=Life in The Family: An Oral History of the Children of God |publisher=University of Syracuse Press |location=Syracuse, NY |pages=64–67}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=July 2016}} for example, he issued a Mo Letter entitled "My confession -- I was an alcoholic!" (ML #1406 Summer 1982) relating his depression after some of his closest supporters quit in 1978.<ref name="Chancellor-2000-11"/> In 1972, a Mo Letter reportedly entitled "Flee as a Bird to Your Mountain" was interpreted by some members, including Ruth Gordon, author of ''Children of Darkness'' about the cult, as a warning to leave America. "God was going to destroy the U.S. ... and we had to get out." This, along with the pressure members felt that parents were trying to "rescue" children who had joined CoG, encouraged members to "[migrate] abroad—first to Europe, eventually to Latin America and East Asia".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> By 1972, COG stated it had 130 communities around the world,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/about/our-history/|title=Our History|website=The Family International|access-date=2016-08-13|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822075611/http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/about/our-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> and by the mid-1970s, it had "colonies" in an estimated 70 countries.<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> BBC reported 10,000 full-time COG members in the 1970s.<ref name="Brocklehurst-Hell-2018"/> In 1976,<ref name="davidberg.org" /> Berg had introduced a new proselytizing method called [[Flirty Fishing]] (or FFing), which encouraged female members to "show God's love" through sexual relationships with potential converts. Flirty Fishing was practiced by members of Berg's inner circle starting in 1973, and was introduced to the general membership in 1976.<ref name=Origins /> === The Family of Love (1978–1981) === The Children of God was abolished in February 1978, and Berg renamed his group "The Family of Love"<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> In what Berg called the "Re-organization Nationalization Revolution" (or RNR).<ref name="Chancellor-2000-10">{{cite book |last1=Chancellor |first1=James D. |title=Life in The Family: An Oral History of the Children of God |date=2000 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |page=10 |isbn=9780815606451 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5FXHyOwK9IEC&q=flirty |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906003943/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Life_in_The_Family/5FXHyOwK9IEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=flirty |url-status=live }}</ref> Berg reorganized the movement, dismissing "more than 300 leading members after hearing unspecified 'reports of serious misconduct and abuse of their positions."<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> Reportedly involved were The Chain's abuse of authority, and disagreements within it about the continued use of [[Flirty Fishing]]. The group was also accused of sexually abusing and raping minors within the organization, with considerable evidence to support this claim. One eighth of the total membership left the movement. Those who remained became part of a reorganized movement called the Family of Love, and later, The Family. The majority of the group's beliefs remained the same.<ref name=Origins>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefamily.org/dossier/statements/origins.htm |title=Origins |website=The Family International |access-date=2016-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429042335/http://www.thefamily.org/dossier/statements/origins.htm |archive-date=2009-04-29 }}</ref> The Family of Love era was characterized by international expansion. After 1978 Flirty Fishing "increased drastically"<ref name="Chancellor-2000-11">{{cite book |last1=Chancellor |first1=James D. |title=Life in The Family: An Oral History of the Children of God |date=2000 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |page=11 |isbn=9780815606451 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5FXHyOwK9IEC&q=flirty |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906003943/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Life_in_The_Family/5FXHyOwK9IEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=flirty |url-status=live }}</ref> and became common practice within the group. A Mo Letter from 1980 (ML #999 May 1980) for example was headlined "The Devil Hates Sex! --- But God Loves It!".<ref name="Chancellor-2000-17">{{cite book |last1=Chancellor |first1=James D. |title=Life in The Family: An Oral History of the Children of God |date=2000 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |page=17 |isbn=9780815606451 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5FXHyOwK9IEC&q=flirty |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906003943/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Life_in_The_Family/5FXHyOwK9IEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=flirty |url-status=live }}</ref> In some areas flirty fishers used escort agencies to meet potential converts. According to TFI "over 100,000 received God's gift of salvation through Jesus, and some chose to live the life of a disciple and [[missionary]]" as a result of Flirty Fishing.<ref name=Origins /> Researcher Bill Bainbridge obtained data from TFI suggesting that, from 1974 until 1987, members had sexual contact with 223,989 people while practicing Flirty Fishing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bainbridge |first=William Sims |year=1996 |title=The Sociology of Religious Movements |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-91202-0 |page=223}}</ref> === The Family (1982–1994) === According to the Family's official history, the group had "far fewer common standards of conduct" during The Family of Love stage than it had previously. In the late 1980s the group "tightened its standards" "to ensure that all member communities provide a very wholesome environment for all, particularly the children", and changed its name to "The Family".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> In March 1989, TF issued a statement that, in "early 1985", an urgent memorandum had been sent to all members "reminding them that any such activities [adult–child sexual contact] are {{em|strictly forbidden}} within our group" (emphasis in original), and such activities were grounds for immediate [[excommunication]] from the group.<ref name="Child Abuse?!">{{cite web |url=http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Child_Abuse%3F%21 |title=Child Abuse?! |website=XFamily |date=2008-01-24 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=September 9, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050909175542/http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Child_Abuse?! |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2005, Claire Borowik, a spokesperson for TFI, stated: <blockquote> Due to the fact that our current zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual interaction between adults and underage minors was not in our literature published before 1986, we came to the realization that during a transitional stage of our movement, from 1978 until 1986, there were cases when some minors were subject to sexually inappropriate advances ... This was corrected officially in 1986, when any contact between an adult and minor (any person under 21 years of age) was declared an excommunicable offense.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newdaynews.com/resource/davidito/borowick-01.htm |title=Statement From Family International |first=Claire |last=Borowik |website=NewDayNews.com |access-date=2005-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050914142114/http://www.newdaynews.com/resource/davidito/borowick-01.htm |archive-date=2005-09-14 }}</ref></blockquote> After a 1993 expose in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-21-vw-13345-story.html |title=A true conversion? |website=Los Angeles Times. 1993-03-21.|date=March 21, 1993 }}</ref> the group broke "years of virtual silence" and began "inviting reporters and religious scholars" to visit its commune in [[La Habra, California]], where at least a ''[[Washington Post]]'' journalist (Gustav Niebuhr) found its members to be "a clean-cut bunch, friendly and courteous". At that time The Family claimed to have "about 9,000 members worldwide, with about 750 scattered across the United States".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993">{{cite news |last=Niebuhr |first=Gustav |title='The Family' and Final Harvest |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/children_of_god/child1.htm |access-date=1 October 2021 |agency=Washington Post |date=2 June 1993 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325012912/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/children_of_god/child1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The group emphasized its mainstream Christian opposition to abortion, homosexuality, drugs and drunkenness and its respect for Rev. [[Billy Graham]].<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> === The Family (1995–2003) === After Berg's death in October 1994, Karen Zerby (known in the group as Mama Maria, Queen Maria, Maria David, or Maria Fontaine) assumed leadership of the group. In February 1995, the group introduced the ''Love Charter'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefamily.org/dossier/charter/overview.htm |title=Charter of the Family International – Governing Documents |website=TheFamily.org |access-date=2016-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825230258/http://www.thefamily.org/dossier/charter/overview.htm |archive-date=2010-08-25 }}</ref> which defined the rights and responsibilities of Charter Members and Homes. The Charter also included the ''Fundamental Family Rules'', a summary of rules and guidelines from past TF publications which were still in effect. In the 1994–95 British court case, [[The Right Honorable|the Rt. Hon.]] [[Alan Ward (judge)|Lord Justice Alan Ward]] ruled that the group, including some of its top leaders, had in the past engaged in abusive sexual practices involving minors and had also used severe [[corporal punishment]] and sequestration of minors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.exfamily.org/the-family/judgement-lord-justice-ward-intro.shtml |title=The Judgement of Lord Justice Ward, 1995 |website=Ex-Family.org |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306192028/http://www.exfamily.org/the-family/judgement-lord-justice-ward-intro.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He found that by 1995 TF had abandoned these practices and concluded that they were a safe environment for children. Nevertheless, he did require that the group cease all corporal punishment of children in the United Kingdom and denounce any of Berg's writings that were "responsible for children in TF having been subjected to sexually inappropriate behaviour".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Judgement of Lord Justice Ward|url=http://www.exfamily.org/art/misc/justward.htm|access-date=2020-11-24|website=www.exfamily.org|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025070541/http://www.exfamily.org/art/misc/justward.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> === The Family International (2004–present) === The Love Charter is The Family's set governing document that entails each member's rights, responsibilities and requirements, while the ''Missionary Member Statutes'' and ''Fellow Member Statutes'' were written for the governance of TFI's Missionary member and Fellow Member circles, respectively. FD Homes were reviewed every six months against a published set of criteria. The Love Charter increased the number of single family homes as well as homes that relied on jobs such as self-employment.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Gary |last1=Shepherd |first2=Gordon |last2=Shepherd |date=August 2005 |title=Accommodation and Reformation in the Family/Children of God |journal=[[Nova Religio]] |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=67–92 |doi=10.1525/nr.2005.9.1.067}}</ref> ==== Recent teachings ==== TFI's recent teachings are based on beliefs which they term the "new [spiritual] weapons". TFI members believe that they are soldiers in the [[spiritual warfare|spiritual war]] of [[conflict between good and evil|good versus evil]] for the souls and hearts of men. ==== Spirit Helpers ==== "Spirit Helpers" include [[angel]]s, other religious and mythical figures, and departed humans, including celebrities; for example the goddess [[Aphrodite]], the Snowman, [[Merlin]], the [[Sphinx]], [[Elvis]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubs.xfamily.org/text.php?t=3059 |title=Pre-Release of "Who Said They're Dead?" Part 1 |website=The xFamily.org Publications Database |date=April 3, 2003 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041340/http://pubs.xfamily.org/text.php?t=3059 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Marilyn Monroe]], [[Audrey Hepburn]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubs.xfamily.org/text.php?t=3060 |title=Pre-Release of "Who Said They're Dead?" Part 2 |website=The xFamily.org Publications Database |date=April 3, 2003 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041337/http://pubs.xfamily.org/text.php?t=3060 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Richard Nixon]], and [[Winston Churchill]]. ==== The Keys of the Kingdom ==== TFI believes that the Biblical passage "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19), refers to an increasing amount of spiritual authority that was given to [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and the [[First disciples of Jesus|early disciples]]. According to TFI beliefs, this passage refers to keys that were hidden and unused in the centuries that followed, but were again revealed through Karen Zerby as more power to pray and obtain miracles. TFI members call on the various Keys of the Kingdom for extra effect during prayer. The Keys, like most TFI beliefs, were published in magazines that looked like comic-books in order to make them teachable to children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.xfamily.org/docs/fam/mlk/mlk_190.pdf |title=Using The Keys Part 1 |website=archive.xfamily.org |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073228/http://archive.xfamily.org/docs/fam/mlk/mlk_190.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== Loving Jesus ==== "Loving Jesus" is a term TFI members use to describe their intimate, sexual relationship with [[Jesus]]. TFI describes its "Loving Jesus" teaching as a radical form of [[bridal theology]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefamily.org/dossier/statements/lj.htm |title=About The Family International |website=The Family International |access-date=2016-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429093717/http://www.thefamily.org/dossier/statements/lj.htm |archive-date=2009-04-29 }}</ref> They believe the church of followers is Christ's bride, called to love and serve him with wifely fervor; however, this bridal theology is taken further, encouraging members to imagine Jesus is joining them during [[sexual intercourse]] and [[masturbation]]. Male members are cautioned to visualize themselves as women, in order to avoid a homosexual relationship with Jesus. Many TFI publications, and spirit messages claimed to be from Jesus himself, elaborate this intimate, sexual relation they believe Jesus desires and needs. TFI imagines itself as his special "bride" in graphic poetry, guided visualizations, artwork,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xfamily.org/index.php?title=File:Tamar_558.jpg&filetimestamp=20050609225658 |title=File:Tamar 558.jpg – XFamily – Children of God |website=XFamily |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214214255/http://www.xfamily.org/index.php?title=File:Tamar_558.jpg&filetimestamp=20050609225658 |url-status=live }}</ref> and songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Loving_Jesus_album |title=Loving Jesus album – XFamily – Children of God |website=XFamily |date=2008-06-11 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026155628/http://xfamily.org/index.php/Loving_Jesus_album |url-status=live }}</ref> Some TFI literature is not brought into conservative countries for fear it may be classified at customs as pornography.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Love_words_to_Jesus |title=Love words to Jesus – XFamily – Children of God |website=XFamily |date=2008-09-12 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026125532/http://xfamily.org/index.php/Love_words_to_Jesus |url-status=live }}</ref> The literature outlining this view of Jesus and his desire for a sexual relationship with believers was edited for younger teens,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Loving_Jesus#For_minors |title=Loving Jesus – XFamily – Children of God |website=XFamily |date=2012-03-16 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204042746/http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Loving_Jesus#For_minors |url-status=live }}</ref> then further edited for children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.xfamily.org/docs/fam/mlk/mlk_168.pdf |title=Mlk 168 |website=archive.xfamily.org |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054606/http://archive.xfamily.org/docs/fam/mlk/mlk_168.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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