Growing Up In A Doomsday Cult: David Berg & The Children of God

In this eye-opening documentary, join us as we delve into the unsettling world of The Children Of God cult. Led by the charismatic David Berg, this group initially appeared as a beacon of hope during the hippie movement but hid a dark reality of manipulation and abuse.
Discover the shocking practices and deceptive tactics used by Berg to control his followers, exploiting their trust and twisting religious teachings for his own gain. Through gripping testimonies and insights, we unravel the psychological impact on individuals raised within the cult, shedding light on the importance of awareness and critical thinking in preventing manipulation.
Join us on this journey to uncover the truth behind The Children Of God, and gain valuable insights into recognizing and guarding against manipulation tactics in any setting. Whether you're a skeptic, seeker, or simply curious, this documentary offers a compelling narrative that will leave you informed and empowered.
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[@elsakristina2689]

R.I.P. Ricky Rodriguez and everyone else who couldn’t escape the trauma, I wish peace and healing to the ones who are still here.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

Also , RIP to River Phoenix (1970-1993) , a few others including former member Caleb D.Shillander (1977-2006)

[@ferretyluv]

I looked up the story and Jesus. He was being raped every day by women. He was also raping babies himself and encouraged to. And the book makes it seem like he was asking for the “loving up.”

[@sarahhomer2873]

My aunt was part of this cult. She’s almost 80 now and has never been normal since my family legally declared her incompetent and they were able to essentially “kidnap” her back out of the cult. She will not speak of her time back then and is a very very religious woman. Socially she’s extremely awkward and has no friends. These people broke her.

[@VaultOfTheFuture]

@@sarahhomer2873 I’m so sorry for your aunt. No one deserves this! I pray God give her peace of mind, body and spirit

[@jadefox5285]

This is an example of just how dangerous having "blind faith" can be.

[@ChristinaMoller-st2bv]

I’m not a religious person, but it makes me extra sick to see these people using religion to manipulate and sexually abuse people. Especially kids from your own family!!!! There’s nothing as wrong as that.

[@ahciaamber]

@@ChristinaMoller-st2bv it's in revelations new testament Bible. It's perfectly okay I guess if you are religious. I don't believe it's okay though

[@skumsters2323]

I commented before ending the whole episode, Ricky Rodriguez, RIP. You did start something before you left, something sad but at least it turned some heads that needed to look. Love

[@user-wickedflower]

Yes I watched a documentary on him, so sad 😢

[@erinobrien8453]

RIP Ricky Rodriguez. You wanted to save your friends and family. You are a true hero.

[@MariaCastaneda-p9r]

Back around 1985, I almost joined the Children of God cult in Guatemala. I was a very new Christian and didn't know much about the Bible. They seemed so sweet and loving, then they started with the "Fishy Fishing" concept. They justified it by telling me that, if Jesus gave his blood to save us, why couldn't we give our bodies to save others. Sounded logical, which just goes to teach us that the Enemy is VERY cleaver. We definitely need to know the Bible and to ask God to keep us in the Truth. Long story short, as I did read my Bible, I started noticing a lot of discrepancies between what they told me and what I was reading. I felt more and more uneasy, so I told God that it was HIM that I was seeking after and to please guide me. I ended up leaving the cult and continued as a Christian, where I have been for more than 40 years. Decades later, so many of the hidden things they practiced have tome to light and I thank God that He was faithful to my request.

[@jodiecarlson6955]

This is the cult that River and Joaquin Phoenix's family was in.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

Yep

[@4Mikes4Mindset4]

I was in it

[@Sacred_Walls]

@@jodiecarlson6955 omg. Really? That’s terrifying to think!

[@Jayygreeen]

@@4Mikes4Mindset4 tell us a story

[@GodsChamp444]

@@jodiecarlson6955 omg

[@taniaadams8841]

20 years ago, Ricky took his life due to the horrors of the cult. We still hope Justice will be done, my dear soul. Many books and documentaries are now out telling us the grotesque masquerade in th name of love. R.I.P Ricky.

[@robyn874]

Thank goodness there are survivors' that were courageous to get out. Although it must have been daunting & terrifying they have gone on to make a life. I hope they are all successful. This was horrific to listen to, I just can't imagine how awful it must have been day in day out. Very disturbing

[@russellst.martin4255]

The narration and tone of this documentary feels very incongruent to the dark subject matter. If the script suddenly switched to a story about the James Webb telescope halfway through you could keep all the audio exactly the same without any issue whatsoever.

[@toyasims7734]

It really angers me that nothing was ever done about this. They actually have a Facebook page and Website.

[@DoctorPlatinum]

The same David Berg who made the ‘Life With Grandpa’ show?

[@twalatka]

Note: be wary of God Ptoclaimimg Prophet's named David.

[@azeers1975]

I'm wary of ALL religious sects. Pure evil.

[@kygal]

@@azeers1975They all have the capability of being evil.

[@Typesh1tt]

@@kygalflying chuzz they said…

[@kygal]

@@Typesh1tt What? I’m sorry.

[@Typesh1tt]

@@kygal chuzz-chopped huzz

[@Elena-er7zp]

River and Joaquin’s mother has said that she was incredibly sad for years after leaving the cult in 1977. Her main breadwinner, River, passed in 1993. I’m sure that narc did not fail to note the coincidence with Moses David’s prophecy.

[@theguynamedgio]

I'm curious. When you say narc. Who are you referring to?

[@AFiedNamedChap]

The weirdly chipper and upbeat AI narration really takes away from the story.

[@AA-wc3tw]

I have reason to believe my mother was a part of COG. I googled various things. Is there an archive of photos or member names online? The Online Archive of California has a listing of boxes & contents that contain photos but few descriptions and no pictures available online.

[@breauxdose]

Why do you believe that?

[@AA-wc3tw]

@@breauxdose Because of information given to me by family members who knew her before I was born.

[@I_Lemaire]

Ask former members on the site xfamily. Be sincere in your request and give your mother's COG name and the places she stayed at with time periods.

[@manonlaviggne1085]

My friend was in it for 10 years and never saw him

[@amc5936]

dead?

[@theguynamedgio]

Saw who?

[@1ACL]

Berg​@@theguynamedgio

[@theguynamedgio]

@@1ACL oh okay. Well yeah. Berg has been dead since the 90’s

[@ahnraemenkhera7451]

Kudos to Mr. Ross, Ms. Tormey & the filmmakers, albeit belatedly peeling back the cap on something begun in the 60s! I’m not even sure how they enforced laws against pedos in that era, IF they did. In order to exist something so time/mind controlling as these cultic matrices, a person has to have, foremost, a very independent inner-core, inherently or well-developed over some time. They also need to know that there is a reason for them, especially to survive. Their lives are especially instructive, not because they need to tell everyone what happened to them-unless they choose to do so-but because every individual needs reminding from time to time that he/she is an individual. They can probably do that far better than most. There is a danger of falling out of one frypan into a crucible, then another, & yet another-depending on early socialization & responses. It’s very encouraging to see, hear, & meet with individuals who’ve LEFT, EXITED, EXHALED-& lived-on to pass along crucial lessons for living. Doing for others is very different from living for others. I hope all of the former “Children” have welcomed Freedom, Sanity, and Self-Worth or are well on the path to doing so, despite great efforts & challenges. 🌦⛅️🌤☀️🍐🍏🥝

[@anncarver6034]

This is so wrong, but this information helps others to know what to watch for.

[@Tiffany-mu6br]

"Berg" Oh look. It's Every-Single-Time

[@robertmiles1603]

🤣🤣🤣👍💪

[@imperfectproductions668]

The song that plays at 08:17 ?? Would love to know it please

[@Thefloppppppp]

I came here from that video it’s awful what they went through

[@SourceInfusion]

This was the cult that River Phoenix’s family was involved with. It’s said that in an interview he told of losing his virginity at age 4, through being coerced.😢

[@1ACL]

@SourceInfusion the word is "raped", not "coerced".

[@SourceInfusion]

@ I figured as much, although I was stating it as I heard it. He apparently didn’t use the word raped in his interview.

[@HannahRuthHopkinson]

@@SourceInfusion I didn't know it was this cult they were in. 😢

[@HannahRuthHopkinson]

Naomi Channel has just made an excellent deepdive series all about the Children of God /David Berg on Spotify under her broadcast handle Real ; well worth a listen 👌

[@Nikotastik]

At first I thought the narrator was tone deaf to the situation, but now im thinking it’s AI. It’s disturbing

[@jeannerountree952]

I hate when AI is used in this manner.

[@maggiebridgesrn]

Yeah this must be. So weird

[@son_of_stan]

If berg was alive now, he'd be using a.i robo voices as well, so he could hide even more of himself.

[@EgaTehPro]

Not AI.

[@stefaniemagee]

A great book i just read about a survivor of this cult called 'Uncultured' by Daniella Mastenek Young, highly recommend.

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

Nb it is SO creepy these women have the same "international" accent as my sister but they're speaking the truth & she still spouting crap

[@rickvg6752]

Original Mo Letters from the 70"s available on eBay

[@moetimski9767]

Are the these people still active in the Philippines, does anyone know?

[@I_Lemaire]

According to xfamily, yes.

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

Nb they moved from Thailand dur to Asuan economic crisis went to $ Jordan & Dubai then as no health care to Sydney....

[@son_of_stan]

All of these "men of god" like berg, want to BE god.

[@rebokfleetfoot]

i'm old enough to remember this crew, and IMHO, these guys, for the most part, did a lot of drugs :)

[@barbaralindhjem2488]

They never did drugs....drank a lot tho

[@rebokfleetfoot]

@@barbaralindhjem2488 i saw times when they appeared to be very happy, but it seems the kind of thing that is better suited to a long weekend rather than a lifestyle

[@vickythefist7062]

​@@rebokfleetfoot what ?? Only sexually abusing kids on the long weekend not weekdays ???😂 WHAT KIND OF Weirdo ARE YOU???😂😂

[@dmimz7691]

I’m not wasting an hour with this sickness .

[@LabelsAreMeaningless]

Hiding from things doesn't make them not exist.

[@sapete1936]

George Carlin had it sorted.

[@WendyP1965]

Absolutely!

[@karlpetersenstock]

Deflower power .

[@KirstineTermansen-l2e]

Ireland, ??

[@bobfels5343]

damn and they still keep the psychotic issue of religion >

[@smallies7154]

nerdrotic in the thumbnail 🤣🤣

[@Mgtowfreedom]

definitely one of the most fascinating cults to ever exist !

[@WendyP1965]

Fascinating! Nothing Fascinating about a bunch of PeDoS!

[@breauxdose]

Yeshua and his teaching are amazing. People should love them out

[@ifantsaurells3014]

Mo...

[@Kp-ve9zm]

Sounds very familiar with wants going on today with an 🍊🤡👹

[@glenmcdonald375]

you've convinced me - where do i join? What a great salesman u r

[@generallyuninterested4956]

Flirty fishing...

[@anonuser7157]

You spelt Chomo wrong

[@curtisskliger2823]

This podcast keeps using the term "Jesus Freaks"

[@user-wickedflower]

Jesus freaks was used by Christian’s in the 60s & 70s. Plus if that’s all you want to comment on this cult you need to look at yourself

[@skumsters2323]

jesus followers jesus freaks it makes a clear distinction, right?

[@apathyguy8338]

Get over it. Adults with imaginary friends can't demand that everybody coddle them.

[@curtisskliger2823]

@@apathyguy8338 i already know you're some kinda atheist troll...so I wouldnt bother arguing with you here! 😑😒🖐

[@Flaschenteufel]

Oh nooooo

[@harper7509]

FLUSH

[@jeffhough7460]

Gods aren't real though 😅 imagine how many people could be saved from these situations without it

[@LabelsAreMeaningless]

I may not be religious, but you sound like a child. There's no proof of existence or non existence, so drop the nonsense. Belief isn't fact. People thinking it is, is why cults are so effective in brainwashing. You've just chosen a different 'cult'

[@breauxdose]

Maybe you’re wrong..

[@jeffhough7460]

@breauxdose yah and maybe I'm not... in fact the evidence supports my claim soo I'll just stick with what can actually be shown to be true

[@breauxdose]

@@jeffhough7460 well I know it doesn’t mean much but I used to not believe in a spiritual realm, but as I made it through my 20s, I developed a better understanding. All I can say ask is to keep an open mind.

[@jeffhough7460]

@breauxdose i do lol but I still require evidence when I come to my decisions or positions

[@glenmcdonald375]

prostitution? What happened to free love? lol

[@stanstarygin6622]

This is PRECISELY what's in the New Testament!

[@ahciaamber]

I know right, when will anyone connect the dots and be like, idk if that's okay. Well we'll see when humanity gets sick of cults springing up.

[@GoesByChris]

I’ve read it and I don’t see how

[@ahciaamber]

@@GoesByChris connect the dots, if you want. Let the song John the revelator by Depeche mode explain the idea. See John as a cult leader

[@ahciaamber]

@@GoesByChris and see how many doomsday cults want to testify about it and see what their alibis are (aka excuses) I hope those cults didn't pain.

[@TomLeach-dd8cl]

Hail satan!

[@PresleeYT]

First ig

[@Dman-wp7ri]

Like the lgbt community says love is love. Nothing wrong with that 😂😂😂😂

[@jessicadavis3989]

@@Dman-wp7ri like the priests and preachers and all the religions do huh and the boys scouts too!!!

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

Please edit & use actual archive footage from xfamily site if able

[@ProbLemChiLd1983]

@@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8 You are in this cult. Get out of it.

[@ProbLemChiLd1983]

You are in this cult... get out of it.