Difference between revisions of "David Berg"

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[[Image:David_Berg-002.jpg|thumb|David Berg]]
 
[[Image:David_Berg-002.jpg|thumb|David Berg]]
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=David Berg=
 
'''David Brandt Berg''' (18 February [[1919]] – October [[1994]]) was born in Oakland, California, [[United States|USA]] to [[Hjalmer Emmanuel Berg]] and Rev. [[Virginia Lee Brandt]] (a Christian evangelist; she died in [[1968]]). David was the youngest of three children, with a brother, Hjalmer, born in 1911, and a sister, Virginia, born in September, 1915. Virginia Brandt is the daughter of Dr. Rev. [[John Lincoln Brandt]] (1860 - 1946), preacher, author, and lecturer of Muskogee, Oklahoma.
 
'''David Brandt Berg''' (18 February [[1919]] – October [[1994]]) was born in Oakland, California, [[United States|USA]] to [[Hjalmer Emmanuel Berg]] and Rev. [[Virginia Lee Brandt]] (a Christian evangelist; she died in [[1968]]). David was the youngest of three children, with a brother, Hjalmer, born in 1911, and a sister, Virginia, born in September, 1915. Virginia Brandt is the daughter of Dr. Rev. [[John Lincoln Brandt]] (1860 - 1946), preacher, author, and lecturer of Muskogee, Oklahoma.
  
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==Early years (1919 – 1948)==
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==History==
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===Early years (1919 – 1948)===
 
David Berg graduated from Monterey High School (in California) in 1935 and later attended Elliott School of Business Administration.
 
David Berg graduated from Monterey High School (in California) in 1935 and later attended Elliott School of Business Administration.
  
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==Christian and Missionary Alliance minister (1948 – 1954)==
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===Christian and Missionary Alliance minister (1948 – 1954)===
 
Berg, like his father, became a minister in the [[Christian and Missionary Alliance]] and was placed at Valley Farms, Arizona, Arizona, USA. Berg was eventually expelled from the organization for differences in teachings and for alleged sexual misconduct with a church employee.
 
Berg, like his father, became a minister in the [[Christian and Missionary Alliance]] and was placed at Valley Farms, Arizona, Arizona, USA. Berg was eventually expelled from the organization for differences in teachings and for alleged sexual misconduct with a church employee.
  
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==Soul Clinic with Fred Jordan (1954 – 1968)==
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===Soul Clinic with Fred Jordan (1954 – 1968)===
 
Fred Jordan, Berg's friend and boss, allowed Berg and his personal family to open a branch of his Soul Clinic in Miami, Florida, USA as a missionary training school. After running into trouble with local authorities for his aggresive methods of [[:Category:Proselytization|proselytizing]], Berg moved his family to Fred Jordan's ''[[Texas Soul Clinic]]''.
 
Fred Jordan, Berg's friend and boss, allowed Berg and his personal family to open a branch of his Soul Clinic in Miami, Florida, USA as a missionary training school. After running into trouble with local authorities for his aggresive methods of [[:Category:Proselytization|proselytizing]], Berg moved his family to Fred Jordan's ''[[Texas Soul Clinic]]''.
  
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==The Children of God/The Family (1968 – 1994)==
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===The Children of God/The Family (1968 – 1994)===
 
David Berg (also known as King David, Mo, Moses David, Father David, Dad, or Grandpa to members of the [[Children of God]]), in [[1968]], founded the [[new religious movement]]/[[cult]]/missionary organization known as the '''Children of God''', later known as '''The Family of Love''' or '''The Family''' and currently '''[[The Family International]]'''.
 
David Berg (also known as King David, Mo, Moses David, Father David, Dad, or Grandpa to members of the [[Children of God]]), in [[1968]], founded the [[new religious movement]]/[[cult]]/missionary organization known as the '''Children of God''', later known as '''The Family of Love''' or '''The Family''' and currently '''[[The Family International]]'''.
  
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He lived in total seclusion and secrecy from his followers and, along with [[Karen Zerby]], is thought to have used a fake Australian passport when traveling. Berg's eldest daughter [[Deborah Davis]] has written a book in which she accuses her father of sexually molesting both her and her sister when they were children, and attempting to have sex with her as an adult.  Her sister [[Faith Berg]] corroborated these claims, but described them in a positive way. In a child-custody case in the [[United Kingdom]], Berg's grandaughter [[Merry Berg]] testified that Berg sexually molested her when she was a young teenager. Another of Berg's granddaughters, [[Joyanne Treadwell Berg]], spoke on American television about being sexually abused by David Berg. Berg's adopted son [[Ricky Rodriguez]] wrote an article on the Web site [[MovingOn|MovingOn.org]] in which he describes Berg's deviant sexual activity involving a number of women and children. [[Davida Kelley]], the daughter of Rodriguez's nanny [[Sara Kelley]], accused Berg of molesting her in a [[Rolling Stone: The Life and Death of the Chosen One|June 2005 Rolling Stone article]].
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He lived in total seclusion and secrecy from his followers and, along with [[Karen Zerby]], is thought to have used a fake Australian passport when traveling.
  
 
Berg died in 1994 and was buried in Costa de Caparica, Portugal (his remains have since been cremated). His organization is currently led by his widow Karen Zerby (whom he took as a soi-disant "second-wife" in August of [[1969]]; known as Mama Maria or Queen Maria in the Children of God) and [[Steven Douglas Kelly]] (an American also known as Christopher Smith, Peter Amsterdam, or King Peter).
 
Berg died in 1994 and was buried in Costa de Caparica, Portugal (his remains have since been cremated). His organization is currently led by his widow Karen Zerby (whom he took as a soi-disant "second-wife" in August of [[1969]]; known as Mama Maria or Queen Maria in the Children of God) and [[Steven Douglas Kelly]] (an American also known as Christopher Smith, Peter Amsterdam, or King Peter).
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==Alleged sexual abuse==
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At least five women, including both his daughters and two of his granddaughters, have publicly alleged that Berg sexually abused them when they were children. Berg's eldest daughter [[Deborah Davis]] has written a book in which she accuses her father of sexually molesting both her and her sister when they were children, and attempting to have sex with her as an adult. Her sister [[Faith Berg]] corroborated these claims, but described them in a positive way. In a child-custody case in the [[United Kingdom]], Berg's grandaughter [[Merry Berg]] testified that Berg sexually molested her when she was a young teenager. Another of Berg's granddaughters, [[Joyanne Treadwell Berg]], spoke on American television about being sexually abused by her grandfather. Berg's adopted son [[Ricky Rodriguez]] wrote an [[Life with Grandpa - the Mene Story|article]] on the website [[MovingOn|MovingOn.org]] in which he describes Berg's deviant sexual activity involving a number of women and children. [[Davida Kelley]], the daughter of Rodriguez's nanny [[Sara Kelley]], accused Berg of molesting her in a [[Rolling Stone: The Life and Death of the Chosen One|June 2005 Rolling Stone article]]. In the same article, a woman identified as [[Armendria]] alleged that David Berg sexually abused her when she was 13 years old.
  
 
==Personal family==
 
==Personal family==

Revision as of 20:28, 10 July 2005

David Berg

David Berg

David Brandt Berg (18 February 1919 – October 1994) was born in Oakland, California, USA to Hjalmer Emmanuel Berg and Rev. Virginia Lee Brandt (a Christian evangelist; she died in 1968). David was the youngest of three children, with a brother, Hjalmer, born in 1911, and a sister, Virginia, born in September, 1915. Virginia Brandt is the daughter of Dr. Rev. John Lincoln Brandt (1860 - 1946), preacher, author, and lecturer of Muskogee, Oklahoma.

History

Early years (1919 – 1948)

David Berg graduated from Monterey High School (in California) in 1935 and later attended Elliott School of Business Administration.

Christian and Missionary Alliance minister (1948 – 1954)

Berg, like his father, became a minister in the Christian and Missionary Alliance and was placed at Valley Farms, Arizona, Arizona, USA. Berg was eventually expelled from the organization for differences in teachings and for alleged sexual misconduct with a church employee.

Soul Clinic with Fred Jordan (1954 – 1968)

Fred Jordan, Berg's friend and boss, allowed Berg and his personal family to open a branch of his Soul Clinic in Miami, Florida, USA as a missionary training school. After running into trouble with local authorities for his aggresive methods of proselytizing, Berg moved his family to Fred Jordan's Texas Soul Clinic.

The Children of God/The Family (1968 – 1994)

David Berg (also known as King David, Mo, Moses David, Father David, Dad, or Grandpa to members of the Children of God), in 1968, founded the new religious movement/cult/missionary organization known as the Children of God, later known as The Family of Love or The Family and currently The Family International.

Berg and his entourage have lived in the following countries (among others) over the years:

From Until Location
n/a 197? USA
197? 197? United Kingdom
1975 1977 Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
1977 - March 1978 - April Madeira, Portugal, and Madrid
1978 - April 1978 - December Switzerland
1978 - December 1981 - July Southern France
1981 - July 1981 - December South Africa
1982 - May 1987 - November Antipolo (North of Manila), The Philippines
1988 - February 1988 - October Tateyama, Japan
late 1988 mid-1993 Canada (near Vancouver, B.C.)
1994 death Costa de Caparica, Portugal

He lived in total seclusion and secrecy from his followers and, along with Karen Zerby, is thought to have used a fake Australian passport when traveling.

Berg died in 1994 and was buried in Costa de Caparica, Portugal (his remains have since been cremated). His organization is currently led by his widow Karen Zerby (whom he took as a soi-disant "second-wife" in August of 1969; known as Mama Maria or Queen Maria in the Children of God) and Steven Douglas Kelly (an American also known as Christopher Smith, Peter Amsterdam, or King Peter).

Alleged sexual abuse

At least five women, including both his daughters and two of his granddaughters, have publicly alleged that Berg sexually abused them when they were children. Berg's eldest daughter Deborah Davis has written a book in which she accuses her father of sexually molesting both her and her sister when they were children, and attempting to have sex with her as an adult. Her sister Faith Berg corroborated these claims, but described them in a positive way. In a child-custody case in the United Kingdom, Berg's grandaughter Merry Berg testified that Berg sexually molested her when she was a young teenager. Another of Berg's granddaughters, Joyanne Treadwell Berg, spoke on American television about being sexually abused by her grandfather. Berg's adopted son Ricky Rodriguez wrote an article on the website MovingOn.org in which he describes Berg's deviant sexual activity involving a number of women and children. Davida Kelley, the daughter of Rodriguez's nanny Sara Kelley, accused Berg of molesting her in a June 2005 Rolling Stone article. In the same article, a woman identified as Armendria alleged that David Berg sexually abused her when she was 13 years old.

Personal family

The Berg Family (1961)

David Berg married his first wife, Jane Miller (known as "Mother Eve" in the Children of God), on 22 July 1944 in Glendale, California. They had four children together:

  • Linda (b. 10 September 1945, known as "Deborah" in the Children of God);
    • m#1. John/Jethro
      • Joyanne (b. ~1964)
    • m#2. Bill Davis (known as "Isaiah" in the Children of God)
      • Alexander David (b. August 1975)
  • Paul Brandt (b. 21 June 1947, known as "Aaron" in the Children of God and very likely committed suicide in April 1973 near Geneva, Switzerland);
  • Jonathan Emanuel (b. January 1949, known as "Hosea" in the Children of God); and
    • m. Lurana Nolind (known as "Esther David" in the Children of God)
  • Faithy (b. February 1951)
    • m#1. Arnold Dietrich (also known as "Archbishop Joshua" in the Children of God)
    • m#2. unknown

Related articles

Multimedia

External links

See also: Category:History
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