COG Founder Berg Dead at 75

David Brandt Berg, known by followers in the controversial Children of God (COG) as Father David or Moses David, died in November at age 75. He remained in hiding for years prior to his death. Berg wrote that his second wife, Maria, will receive his "mantle and anointing" and hear from him from heaven.

In 1969, Berg founded the cog, now called the Family, with followers among former West Coast hippies. The communal group drifted into deviant beliefs, teaching that God approved of unmarried adults having consensual sex. COG members also practiced "flirty fishing," allowing women members to "evangelize" by having sex with nonmembers. The Family says that practice ceased in 1987.

The Family recently returned to the United States (CT, Dec. 14, 1992, p. 42) and now claims 9,000 full-time members in more than 200 communities in 43 countries. The group has been hounded by legal battles in foreign countries over child sex abuse charges, although no convictions have resulted.

Deborah Davis, Berg's daughter, left the Family and wrote a book against it. "They are going to keep going strong with the people they've got in it," Davis predicts, although she believes the group might "lose some of its continuity," noting Maria is not as "radical" or charismatic as Berg.

Copyright © 1995 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Why Women Choose Abortion: Postabortion interviews reveal what would have changed their minds.

Our Latest

Wire Story

Top ACNA Leader Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Following a string of scandals, the accusations against Archbishop Steve Wood come amid plans for the denomination to overhaul its abuse response.

The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: Should Communion Be Open to All Believers?

Russell takes a listener’s question about church membership and the Communion table.

Anti-Fragile Faith in Chaotic Times

Slow Theology highlights how a long obedience in the same direction grows.

News

Christian Colleges Object to Trump ‘Overreach’ on Higher Ed

The administration’s compact with universities would freeze tuition for five years and cap the number of international students, among other measures.

Will There Ever Be Peace in the Middle East?

An explainer on sectarianism, and how it keeps the region divided.

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube