In 1975 I was born into a Christian Cult. I did not join a Cult or choose it, my parents did, and by de-facto there I was. The cult at that time went by the name of “The Children of God”. Their rise and fall is well documented on YouTube and other streaming channels so I will not rehash the story, or mention the name of their diabolic leader. Other than to say that, like in all Cults, things started innocently enough, with a call to living Christian values, inspiring young activist minded youth of the 60″ to change the world, and be a force for positive change. Many joined, some came to know Christ through joining, others (like my parents) were already Christians, and they saw their involvement as a means to live their faith in a radical way. The 60″ were radical times, of great change. Like in all Cults, things degenerated quickly: hierarchy’s were established, inner workings of the leader and his closest (the elders) were kept from the group. Formal and informal systems of control took hold to keep members obedient, and bringing in money. (of course it’s about self enrichment for a Cult Leader). By the mid 70″ (when I was born) things had degenerated to such a state; I remember adults screaming at each-other about not being in “the spirit” (whatever that meant), women were flirty fishing (just another term for prostituting themselves to bring money into the group), and parents were sexually, and mentally abusing their children in the name of “Free Love”. And of course, all of this was okay because after all “The End of the World was at hand, and they were all about to be raptured”. Yes, things got pretty dark!
I consider myself very lucky; My father was from Europe, (where I was born), he joined the Cult when he was traveling through the U.S in the 60″; so when the edict went out to move to Europe, because the end was nigh, and was going to come to the U.S first (a.k.a The Cult Leader was in the cross hairs of the FBI, for Tax fraud); my father had the advantage of being from there, and knowing the lay of the land. He decided to not live in a commune, but rent a house for our family, as we were a brood of 7 kids. Looking back I believe that I was spared from possible physical abuse, due to this decision. My life in the cult didn’t last long. My parent left the group in 1979, after a Cult news letter was published encouraging parents to “love their children”. We were out!!
Cults are brainwashing havens, and for the upcoming 10/15 years I watched my parents, and some former members that were still friends, unravel their minds from everything they had come to believe was true, while also struggling to reconcile their faith, and relationship with God, and find some prospective and self forgiveness for having been so terribly wrong about the organization they had called their family for 10+ years. All of this of course effected me too, and has deeply informed my life, and my belief in God.
For example: I had to stop waiting for the “End of the World and the Rapture” (we were taught it was imminent). I had to integrate into society, after being told they were all “systemites” (Cult term). I had to find clarity about the culture of judgment that was fostered in the Cult. I had to weather the confusion as I watched many of “the adults” lose their faith in God. Some turned to secularism, some to spirituality, feeling ashamed at having been duped into, thought processes, and behaviors that are deplorable by any standard.
It has been now 41 Years since my parents left the Cult, and again, I say: “I was lucky”. My parents came from good families that welcomed them back with open arms when they left, and gave them, and their children, a second chance at a “normal” life (This was not the case for some, who had fled bad/abusive homes to originally join). Over time we were able to heal our relationship with each-other, society, and God. But I know so many ex-members that deny God even to this day. And to them I would say only this: Please forgive yourself. You were young, you were idealistic. You were duped, not by your belief in God, but by your blind belief in a charismatic man, that was saying all the right things at the right time. Forgive yourself, and repent! Jesus Loves you, we are The Children of God!
