DAVID Berg was the founder and leader of one of the most famous cults in the world.
Family International has gone through several name changes in the past and is still active today. This is what we know about him.
Who was David Berg and when did he find the Children of God?
David Berg was the founder and leader of the Children of God.
Berg was born on February 18, 1919 in Oakland, California to parents Hjalmer Emmanuel Berg and Reverend Virginia Lee Brandt.
Both his parents were Christian evangelists.
He created the movement in 1968 with his then wife and children.
It was a movement aimed at the counterculture youth in America at the time.
Before founding the cult, Berg was an itinerant preacher on a mission to spread the word of God.
He eventually found himself low on funds and frustrated that his message was not reaching America’s youth.
The Children of God claimed to have 10,000 full-time members in 130 communities around the world in the 1970s.
He had a number of nicknames as a leader, including Father David and Moses David.
He went into hiding in 1971 but continued to lead the group until his death in Portugal in 1994 aged 75.
At the time of his death, the group still claimed to have 6,000 adults and 3,000 children in 50 countries.
Are the International Family and Children of God the same cult?
The International Family and the Children of God are the same cult.
During its existence, it was known by many different names.
They were known as the Children of God from their creation in 1968 to 1977.
They then became The family of love until 1982, when they were then known simply as The family.
The family went International in 2004 and have remained so ever since.
Why is the family so infamous?
The family gained notoriety for unusual sexual practices, as well as allegations of abuse by former members.
Bergs teachings encouraged relationships between people, regardless of age or relationship.
