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Ona Bull
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 7:46 pm: | 
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What can I say regarding my tenure with COG/AKA The Family???
At first recollection, I can honestly say that it may have been easier for me to get out than some others. As my allegiance was always, first and foremost, to the quest for truth and knowledge. A quest which still occupies a great part of my life-energies.
I first was drawn to them as a disenchanted flower-child in the seventies. I was one of a growing segment of the "love & peace-movement" which had enraptured the imagination of an entire generation and popular culture. A segment which was beginning(wisely so) to realize that the 60's counterculture movement was mainly devolving into narsiccistic self-indulgence and progressively increasing reliance on hard drugs (as opposed to the 'natural' non-addictive ones formerly embraced by the movement.) Love came to mean the degree to which one had become emancipated from every learned behavior which had once been the foundation for (relatively) stable society.
As the movement began to crumble, some returned to establishment lives, mainly the ones with stable family foundations, anyway. For those like myself, who had no loving family to begin with, we were easy prey to the vast array of alternative sub-cultures which had splintered off from the popular movement masquerading under various guises as "Ultimate Truth"
I chose COG because it seemed to choose me in the way my real family never did. I was drawn in by a former boyfriend who showed up one day with a 'gleam' in his eye and endless rantings as to why this group of people represented the fulfillment of our many all night sessions spent with other 'truth'seekers' trying to unravel the mysteries of life.
On the surface it appeared that theirs was a spiritually communal lifestyle, but at closer scrutiny, it became obvious that COG was more akin to a feudal or political-communistic system of government. After becoming disillusioned with COG, I stuck aroud for awile just to observe & analize its structure.Here I will share a few basic insights.
COG was divided into two rigid groups I prefer to call the 'Ins & Outs', just for fun.
THE INS
The Ins called all the shots. (also called leaders, but I prefer to call them lords, or overlords, as they truly are/were slave masters) They devised the rigid scheduling of life activities for the Outs. (servant class)They decided when one was to sleep and when one was to rise and planned every waking activity in between.
The Ins wore nice clothes & had private rooms & or apartments. They could do as they pleased, basically, as they lived off the labors of the Outs, who lived in cramped dorms, raised the monies through selling Mo Letters on the streets,(called litnessing) and cleaned, maintained & cooked for the household, as well as providing childcare for the Ins. The Ins had telephones in their quarters, as well as TV's and stereos & access to cars donated by the Outs.
I tried to analyze the traits & qualities of those who became Ins & I think I nailed it. (Okay, I will admit it: I sneaked into my local Ins room one night & lifted some 'secret files' as they were sleeping, the night I had decided to leave COG) The results were not surprising.
You see, I had been operating under the delusion that the Ins were chosen by divine decree of GOD as related via Moses David himself!!! What I actually learned was that esconced Ins are to select apprentice Ins on the basis of establishment traits of dominance over others & the ability to manipulate & control other humans. Is this anything new, I ask you? I could go on ad nauseum over the sick & specific & inhumane behaviors of the Ins, but am collecting all of these into book form, as they are so profuse.
OUTS
These were the 'true-believers' & salt of the movement. The pure of heart and intent---the true sheeple. The Outs gladly gave up all wealth, cars, posessions and will to what they naively assumed to be GOD's Family. The Outs did all the work & did what they were told, no sacrifice being too great when weighed against the option of banishment from GOD'S TRUE KINGDOM. Most of them came from broken and abusive family situations, as I was able to glean. Going from one dysfunctional family to another, and thinking this an only option.
THE CHILDREN
These were the well-meaning victims of a society which inadverdantly created these cults via distortions and perversions of spititual truths which once were purported to be the underpinnings of the society regarding which the children were trying to warn their first elders about. Becoming disillusioned and escaping, once the first elders showed no signs of heeding or remembering the truths from which they'd strayed... the children sought a new family with better truths...
(excerpts from book in progress by me regarding cult-mentality) |
Joseph
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 1:27 pm: |
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There are some websites for former members of The Children of God (aka The Family). All of them have active message boards:
http://www.newdaynews.com
http://www.exfamily.org
http://www.voy.com/26994/
This one is for people born in the group:
http://www.movingon.org |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 4:05 pm: |
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Does anyone know of a site made for children born and raised in the cog the link wont work ill check back in a few days |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 7:54 pm: |
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Kin of Xerox's Wilson guilty in cult case
By Lauren Stanforth
Democrat and Chronicle
(January 26, 2003) — A granddaughter of Xerox Corp. founder Joseph C. Wilson could face 11 years in prison after being involved in what was described as a cult in which a 19-month-old died.
Deirdre Hart Wilson, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced March 3 in Marin County, Calif., after pleading guilty to five felony counts of child endangerment -- one count for each of her children, said Barry Borden, deputy district attorney in Marin County.
The 19-month-old, who starved to death in November 2001, was the child of another woman living in the house with the group known as “The Family.”
Five women (including Wilson), one man and 13 children lived in the house, where the children were punished through starvation, whipping, having their mouths taped shut and by being force-fed hot peppers, according to reports published in the San Francisco Chronicle and Marin Independent Journal.
The six adult members of “The Family” were initially charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. But through a plea deal struck last month, the charges were dropped to child endangerment for three of the adults, Borden said. Prosecutors dropped charges against one woman who did not live with the family long; another woman died of leukemia last year.
Wilson could receive at minimum probation, or at maximum 11 years and four months in prison. Her children, as well as the others in the home, were turned over to child protective services at the start of the case.
Wilson’s father, J. Richard Wilson of Brighton, said the family has no comment until after the sentencing.
E-mail address: lstanfor@DemocratandChronicle.com
from http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0126story5_news.shtml |
Bob Smith
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 2:18 pm: |
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I have been reading the series "My experience with the Children of God/The Family, part ..." on the factnet.org web page. The series only goes to part xi, but there is much more to this person's testimony. It seems to stop about half way through.
Does any know how to obtain the rest of the testimony ?
I am fairly literate on Web browsing and I cannot find any possible link to the next html/chapter. If there is a book or the originator of that series has more information, I would appreciate finding out how I can obtain it. I am certainly willing to purchase a book or pay for in some way for the rest of the testimony.
regards and blessings, Bob Smith |
mike fout
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 1:47 am: |
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i was born in the family. my father was a crow (i dont know what they were called back then, but he was in charge of TX,OK,& LA.)
my earlist memorys are those of living inside a trailer traveling everywhere, singing in front of stores for gas money. living me and my 7 siblings inside of a little trailer pulled behind an old wagoneer. my father (luke) always hated me most of all the kids, he would later admit to it being because i was born from an affair that my mother had. (even though my fatehr didnt mind shareing his wife, he did mind that she fell in love with someone else. and i was the result)
my story is rather lengthy. because since i was the son of a leader, i was submited to MUCH more then the average kid in the group was (i even met the leader david berg, aka "grandpa" aka "moe" etc etc)
but i will post it later, right now im ratehr tierd and i have to go to work in the mourning. |
Angela J.
| | Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 4:55 am: |
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I was born and raised in the Family in Thailand, I have been abuse sexually and physically since a young age, ( my mother was a Thai national single Mom, with a bunch of eurasian kids from guys she tried to get to faher us, we were always bottom of the rung targets for others to vent there angry. would like to say something, dont' know where to start. I'm too filled with pent up feeling to say anything intellegent, and as the first 18 years of my life have been my secret I am a little wary of what I should say or can to you all about it now. Life's been wonderful since I left, I feel lucky to be here, and able to speak my mind. Tahnks for being, all of you
I'd better snd this befor I erase it |
Amelia G.
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 7:04 pm: |
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I am in my senior year at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. I have been researching the Children of God for a semester long project assigned to my Anthropology class. I am at the point in my work where I need to interview and ex-member-
I am looking for someone who is willing to be interviewed for a couple of hours in which a “life history” will be taken. This information will be confidential and will remain confined to Sarah Lawrence College. I will need to meet my interviewee in NYC.
Please let me know if you or someone you know might be interested.
Your story deserves to be told!
Please contact me at – Ameliagus@yahoo.com
Thank you for your support,
Amelia |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 7:27 pm: |
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there is a website for ex members who were born and raised in the family. It is called Safe passage and can be found via search on google.
BTW does anyone here believe that River Phoenix was killed or read the book that claims he may even have been killed by the group. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Sunday, December 07, 2003 - 7:57 am: |
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http://www.geocities.com/roberts3434 |
Tyler Durden
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 7:37 am: |
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Ok. First the story: "Kin of Xerox's Wilson guilty in cult case" is not about "The Family" (COG) it is some other cult and when they said "the family" they meant his family!! In the family you do not have more then one wife.
Second River Phoenix killed by the group???
How stupid and ignorant are you. You know nothing about this group and yet you post stupid things like that. Of course the group did not kill him! Why would they? Was he really a threat? Of course not! He was just a actor. How can someone even suggest that? This is not the manson family!!
This is a group that believes in love, jesus, the bible, god etc... They are christans. They do not believe in hate, killing, revenge etc...
The main goal of the family is what they call to "win people to the lord" they do that by asking people if they want to ask Jesus into their Heart.
I know some people in the family were abused but to the extent that is lower then the general population. Studies have shown that childen in the cult are more generally more healthy the the general population. Now the family should not be called a cult. All the first gen. of young people in the Family are grown up (40-50-60 year-olds)
It is nothing like you read about them in the 60s-70s and 80s.
The family does not allow child abuse, underage sex, smoking, they do allow drinking but there is a limit.
They do somethings that you and I may think is wrong...the biggests is "sharing" (sex with other married and unmarried members) but this is their choice. No one is forced to do anything that they do not want to do.
Child Abuse is not allowed! I was in the family all of my life 15 years (I am now 18)
and I have never been in a home were any abuse sexually or otherwise occured.
I am not pro-the family. But I know that the family is not all bad like some people would have you believe. Sure there are bad things in the family buy there are bad things all over this world. The Catholic Church has alot of cases of abuse but yet we don't call them a cult or child abusers. Chances are they the city you live in has alot of child abusers but that does not mean that you live in a city of child abusers. People only read about the negtive cases from members that left and are holding a grouge from the 70s or 80s.
The only thing I really miss about the family is my childhood and growing up with people my ages and having friends besides my brothers and sisters to talk to. The relationships you form in the family are very very strong. When you live in the same home as someone you talk to them all day. You do chores, eat, watch movies, play games etc... with them. You really get to know people unlike highschool and middle school where you see them at lunch and thats it. I had some of the best friends that I think I will ever have, in the family.
Like the Pope the leaders of the family (the ones way up there) were croupt, they used rellion for money but the members are good people that are doing that they believe is work for god. By passing out posters with a prayer on them so that they too may become christans.
Before you judge this cult (well could now be called ex-cult) please understand that they are good people!
If all you read was the bad things about the family (most happened in the 80s) you will never truly understand who they are. Hard workings christans, not mansonites. |
Messiah
| | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 6:21 am: |
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Dear Tyler,
Ok, you must be very deluded to think that nothing bad happened in 'the Family'.
Noone can deny the that there WAS abuse in the Family. There have been numerous accounts, and testemony of sexual and child abuse. Just because it did not happen to you, or just because it is not happening 'as much' now, doesn't mean it didn't happen to all the countless victims out there who have to live or deal with the trauma.
It is called a cult because it systematically brainwashed people, and duped people into giving up their belongings, and their life to 'God', when really, all this, was forfeited to the leaders. Cults are all about control. Yes, there are good people in there, and because most of the people who come in are either from the outside, or grew up on it, and they know no better, they are taken advantage of, especially because of their good nature! There are good people in every kind of organisation, but it doesn't mean the organisation is good.
Ps. How does one conduct a study to show that members of the Family are 'generally more healthy' than the public?? And where are the details of this study, and who conducted it?
There must be advantages to being in a tightknit community, but not being able to be open to the outside 'world', means there is always a danger that you do not see what is really going on...
~ In your pursuit of Truth, do not lose sight of your eyes... ~ |
Nahar says
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 6:23 pm: |
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Hey, I'm new here and I'm doing a biography on River Phoenix, and he was part of the Children of God. What is the Children of God? |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 6:39 pm: |
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Nahar,
you will find it helpful to read the group history posted on www.freedomofmind.com and at www.rickross.com as well as all the other sites mentioned above.
Useful books to read include Not for a million dollars and Heaven's Harlots |
just curious
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:54 pm: |
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was River Phoenix REALLY a member of the Family? I've read a lot of stuff about them but never about him being a part of the group. Does anyone know this for sure? Where is it documented? |
Luna
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 8:04 am: |
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Hi
Writing from denmark.
I am 20 years old.
I grew up in "The Family" with my mom and aunt, 3 bothers and sisters and my aunts 5 children. My mom was married to a man that I now see was a pedofile. (He was also "with" my aunt) I Was abused sexually in about 7 or 8 years. (From age 9-16) My two sisters and my aunts to gils were also abussed. And it was all in the name of "god" and "The Family"
Now I am out of it, trying to live my life the best I know how. But all of this happend just 4-5 yars ago! It must still be happening somewere... |
a mom
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 10:15 pm: |
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Luna,
I am so sorry your childhood was filled with such horror. That is not what God wants for his children. Do not resent God for the things that man has done. God loves you and wants you to be happy, whole and free. God bless you child. |
One of the Lanas
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 1:26 am: |
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I am looking desperately for information regarding what my friends and peers have refered to as a cult. I'm hoping this board is regularly checked by people who if what I say rings a bell will answer this message. So far the closest thing I have come accross is COG and I'm wondering if it could be an offshoot of this. Because of the age that I was exposed to the abominable sexual abuse I am missing huge gaps in memory which contributes to the lack of information that I havew on this. So I think the best thing i can do is to list what I remember. If any of this rings a bell please reply to this message as what I'm about to reveal puts my life and that of my offspring in danger and I will not be leaving an email address.
I have numerous "brothers & sisters" some of which I am almost sure I am related to
We suffered horendous sexual ritualistic abuse from a very young age, from what I am told by the others I was 1st molested at the age of 8months
We were molested both ritualistically and with in our "normal life
Some of these rituals involved maypoles
There was a "mother" who seemed to preside over aspects of the abuse
Now looking back it seems as if her own sick twisted and perverted beliefs were taken advantage of by pedophiles
Sodomy was and still is a source of punishment
There was and is a belief re: sucking energy from children
As bizarre as this sounds, nearly all of us involved have severe health issues that are advanced beyond our years
We were filmed and sold
There is a belief that we should submit our children willingly and also participate in the same ritualistic and sexual abuse
I believe this happened at various locations along the east coast of australia
For some of the girls involved we were referred to as Lana mainly but not limited to filming
These people; "mother", and other hirarchy believe that they still own us body and soul
There seems to be some sort of mafia affiliation involved with much of the protection involved with these activities, although this seems to be regional
There is evidence of occult activities being successfully used, perhaps a bastardized witches coven
The group was communally orientated
Should you no anything please respond. |
1of the Lanas
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 1:30 am: |
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I just posted the previous message, I forgot to write something. If any of the previous writers have similar stories I would like to hear from you.
ThanX |
anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 10:17 am: |
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When I was a teenager I attended a church named "Temple of Still Waters" in Atlanta Georgia. I recall going to church one Sunday and right out of the blue we were suddenly required to pass an interview to get in, and COG people were in charge. The pastor's wife left him and went with the COG people and they took several vans with them. This all happened it seemed to me in a very short time, like a week or so, but I am sure it probably took a little longer. Those Children of God people were freaky. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 8:28 pm: |
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Do the Children of God still do the ole 'flirty fishing' thing for evangelism? If they do, tell me where some of the local churches are. |
other (205.188.209.133)
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 5:03 pm: |
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I've been looking for people my age that grew up in the family/cog that have been through the same kind of mental, physical & other abuses I've gone through. That's one thing about leaving the cult, you have a hard time relating to regular people. I've done good for myself. But I'd like some friends that I can relate to. Feel free to Email me. |
Robin Good (198.54.202.2)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 1:36 pm: |
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hi my name is robin. I believe in God and I have been abused by the so called born again church that preaches prosperity. We were also involved in the Jesus Army . I am thinking of joining the family or helping it to morphosise into something better... we are christian missionaries that really want to belong to a group of people that Love Jesus and God. That wish for the kingdom of God on Earth as it is in heaven. I am currently in south africa. I have 3 young children and am married with one wife.
We are very serious about joining the family and want to really see if they are a cult or not.
If anyone wants to email me please do so... jesuscaravan@yahoo.com we are just sick and tired of cults and sects... all we want to do is be part of a people that LOVE God... I see the church as an invisible organ ... lets get away from labels and see what it really means to be born again... I am sure all of us will be surprised who will enter into heaven... even me. My hope and my prayer is to meet up with sincere people and live out my life with them in a true relatioship of trust based on the Word of God. I am Not into anymore cults... is this what the family /cogis?
Thank you |
Anonymous (68.119.47.6)
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:21 pm: |
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TO ROBIN... GET IN ONE OF THE CHUCHES .. WHEATHER IT BE PENTACOSTAL BAPTIST BUT GET IN ONE THAT HAS NO FORGIEN PRACTICES THAT DO NOT GO WITH THE WORD OF GOD.. THE BIBLE |
Jill Hamlin (152.163.253.102)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:25 pm: |
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There was a book written, I think the name of it was: "If You Meet Buddha On the Side of The Road, Kill Him..." I understand that now. Though I wouldn't recommend the killing, I would run like hell away from anyone offering THE truth for the ENDTIME, or a solution to all your problems which involves financial support or a call to give up all your goods and join them.
What appears at first to be pleasant and warm (so many smiles, such dedication, attention to you) will be replaced by bondage like you DON'T ever want to know. Pro-Family websites water down their core message, and deny oftentimes that abuses occurred as they did, sanctioned, written about and promoted from the top and continue as such. Don't swallow the bait of attraction to any group, vizualize the hooks under the bait..because once you are hooked, you might not get out without way too much and sometimes irrepairable damage. |
Douglas (68.162.47.188)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:01 pm: |
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Unfortunately Anon (68.119.47.6) I have yet to see what you describe and I've been to many. |
Anonymous (66.229.241.116)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:43 pm: |
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There are some websites for former members of the Children of God/Family of Love. They all contain a lot of documentation, photos, message boards, etc. They are:
http://www.newdaynews.com
http://www.exfamily.org
http://www.movingon.org
The first two sites (Newdaynews and ExFamily) are mostly for adults who joined the group.
The last site (Moving On) is for second generation adults, or people who where born into and grew up in COG/Family. |
E B Wein (80.14.76.66)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 3:51 am: |
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There's a broken link way up above somewhere for the site movingon.org (for those who were raised in the COG/Family).
The correct link is:
http://www.movingon.org/ |
E B Wein (80.14.76.66)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 4:13 am: |
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The "Xerox heir" child abuse case posted somewhere up above does not seem to be related to the Children of God.
The name "The Family" is common to many small cults. The cult in question seems to be limited to one man (who saw himself as Christ) and several live-in girlfriends.
Here's a link explaining more.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/wright/wright17.html |
EBW (80.14.76.66)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 5:08 am: |
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To "one of the LLanas" who posted above.
Your story doesn't sound like the COG.
The COG is indeed an abusive cult but it operates differently.
I suggest you visit this site and contact its administrator "Ghostwolf".
He himself is a survivor of a sect like the one you describe.
Best wishes
EBW |
EBW (80.14.76.66)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 5:20 am: |
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Oops Missing Link
Here's the link for that last post.
http://www.nemasys.com/ghostwolf/index.shtml
EBW |
Anonymous (172.189.49.237)
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 9:17 am: |
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Free Money UK |
AARON (68.119.37.147)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 5:32 pm: |
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EVERY THING I HAVE EVER HEARD ABOUT THE FAMILY WAS BAD... |
Wyoming (199.141.125.33)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 5:59 pm: |
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Aaron: If you really want to know how bad it is, check out this site.
http://countercog.excult.org/
A friend of mine put it together and I used to video his seminars for him. |
joy (81.229.224.79)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 8:10 am: |
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Angela J : i was born and raised in the family. four of those years, -86 to -90, were spent in thailand. lived in many "homes" in bangkok (junior jetts home among others), chiang mai and lampang. abuse experienced that still after all these years are hard to cope with, even on a daily basis at times. cant help wondering if we, at one point or another, were living in the same place? nearly a year has passed since your message was added, so i realise the slim chance of you seeing this, but i just had to..
and oh, as for tyler durden.. reading what you posted felt like a slap in the face. you should know how lucky you are, ignorance is bliss my friend.
Joy |
Anonymous (160.67.73.37)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 - 5:12 am: |
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I was born and raised in The COG/Family of Love/Family.
A) There was and is abuse in the group.
B) there were and are cover ups of these incidents
C) finding the strength to leave will be the most important decision | |
