The Family International (TFI) is a Christian New Religious Movement founded in Huntington Beach, California, USA, in 1968 by David Berg that has been criticized as an authoritarian cult. Originally named Teens for Christ, it has gone under a number of different names. It gained notoriety as The Children of God (COG). It was later renamed and reorganized as The Family of Love (1978–1981), which was eventually shortened to The Family. As of 2004, it has gone by The Family International.
Overview
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, “at its height” the Family movement had “tens of thousands of members, including River and Joaquin Phoenix, Rose McGowan and Jeremy Spencer”. TFI initially spread a message of salvation, apocalypticism, spiritual “revolution and happiness” and distrust of the outside world, which the members called The System. Like some other fundamentalist groups, it “foretold the coming of a dictator called the anti-Christ, the rise of a brutal One World Government and its eventual overthrow by Jesus Christ, in the Second Coming”.
In the 1970s, the group became known for its practice of “flirty fishing”, in which female members were encouraged to have sex with potential converts in order to lure them into the group. The practice was later abandoned, but it has continued to be a source of controversy for the group.
In the 1980s, the group began to move away from its apocalyptic message and focus more on social activism. It has since become involved in a number of humanitarian projects, including disaster relief and education.
The group has been criticized for its authoritarian structure, its use of mind control techniques, and its sexual practices. However, it has also been praised for its commitment to social justice and its humanitarian work.
History
The Family International was founded in 1968 by David Berg, a former Pentecostal preacher. Berg was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1919. He began his ministry in the early 1960s, preaching to hippies and other young people in California. In 1968, he founded Teens for Christ, a small group of followers who lived together in a communal house in Huntington Beach, California.
In the early 1970s, Berg began to receive messages from God, which he called “Mo Letters”. The Mo Letters were a series of letters that Berg wrote to his followers, outlining his teachings and instructions. In the Mo Letters, Berg often spoke about the end times and the need for his followers to prepare for the coming apocalypse.
In the mid-1970s, the group began to practice “flirty fishing”, in which female members were encouraged to have sex with potential converts in order to lure them into the group. The practice was later abandoned, but it has continued to be a source of controversy for the group.
In the 1980s, the group began to move away from its apocalyptic message and focus more on social activism. It has since become involved in a number of humanitarian projects, including disaster relief and education.
The group has been criticized for its authoritarian structure, its use of mind control techniques, and its sexual practices. However, it has also been praised for its commitment to social justice and its humanitarian work.
Beliefs
The Family International is a Christian group that believes in the Bible as the word of God. They believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross to save humanity from sin. They also believe that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent and that the world is in a state of moral decay.
The Family International has a number of unique beliefs. For example, they believe that God is a loving Father who wants the best for his children. They also believe that the devil is real and that he is working to destroy humanity.
Practices
The Family International has a number of unique practices. For example, they practice “flirty fishing”, in which female members are encouraged to have sex with potential converts in order to lure them into the group. They also practice “love bombing”, in which they shower new members with affection and attention in order to make them feel loved and accepted.
The Family International has also been criticized for its use of mind control techniques. For example, they have been accused of using isolation, sleep deprivation, and emotional manipulation to control their members.
Controversies
The Family International has been involved in a number of controversies. For example, they have been accused of child abuse, sexual abuse, and financial fraud. They have also been accused of using mind control techniques to control their members.
In 1986, the United States Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against the group, alleging that they had engaged in child abuse and sexual