1. Children of God
In the 1960s, David Berg formed what just may be the most notorious, infamous cult in American history, the Children of God. The group’s teachings blended ecstatic worship of Jesus Christ with promiscuous sex. In fact, one of the group’s evangelistic techniques during the 1970s was something called “Flirty Fishing.” In Flirty Fishing, female members of the cult were encouraged to win over potential converts by having sex with them. They often worked as working girls in escort agencies. The belief was that people could receive God’s gift of salvation by having sex with members of the Children of God.
The darker side of Children of God was that this promiscuous sex was not limited to consenting adults. Children who grew up in the cult were frequently raped. The late actor River Phoenix grew up in the cult, and he claimed that the first time he was forced to have sex, he was four years old. Additionally, the children were discouraged from attending school, as they should eschew the world to earn the favor of God. After all, the apocalypse was coming.
In 1993, Interpol and the CIA finally began investigating the allegations of sexual abuse made against David Berg. He died the next year, but the cult continued until as late as 2009, under the new moniker The Family International. The Family claimed that any form of sexual conduct with a minor was strictly forbidden, but the evidence that thousands of children were sexually abused by cult members is overwhelming.
Where did we get this stuff? Here are our sources:
“How Adolfo Constanzo Went From Catholic Boy to Drug Kingpin – Then to Satanic Cult-Leading Serial Killer,” by Gina Dimuro. “All That’s Interesting.” August 1, 2018.
“‘They’ll be chopped to pieces, there’ll be blood-spattered everywhere’: Charles Manson’s chilling warning months before murders is revealed as lost tapes from inside his cult show his followers cavorting naked,” by Natalie Corner. “Daily Mail.” September 27, 2018.
“Masonic conspiracy theories.” Wikipedia.
“Dark Side of the Moon: How megalomaniac Moonie leader built a billion-dollar business empire through sinister cult,” by Rachael Bletchly. The Mirror. September 4, 2012.
“Tokyo Sarin attack: Aum Shinrikyo cult leaders executed.” BBC News. July 6, 2018.
“Order of the Solar Temple.” Wikipedia.
“Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” Wikipedia.
“Cults: The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God.” Encyclopedia.
