The Family International

The Family International is a Christian cult formerly known as the Children of God, The Family of Love, and The Family. This group is the primary focus of this website.

The group started in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, USA. It sprang from the Jesus Movement of the late 60s and early 70s, and was chief among the movements that triggered the cult controversy of the 70s and 80s in the United States and Europe (see: FREECOG). In the past, it was notorious for its liberal sexual practices, especially Flirty Fishing, introduced by founder and prophetic leader David Berg.

See also: History, Beliefs, Practices

Name changes

Children of God to The Family of Love

In an attempt to deflect public concern over some of his more controversial policies, founder and leader David Berg decided in early 1978 that deception was in order. He declared:

28. Let's also try to get away from being called the "Children of God" where that name is hated, and simply call ourselves the new Family of Love!

Source: The "Re-Organisation Nationalisation Revolution!" (ML 650)

Berg's orders were quickly implemented, and the group entered a new phase (see: Reorganization Nationalization Revolution).

The Family to The Family International

The group's most recent name change took place in August 2004, the primary stated reason being to differentiate between themselves and other organizations.

"With Family Homes in over 100 countries around the world, one of the purposes for changing the Family name was to help our 'parent' name reflect the broader, more international flavor that the Family really has, while also helping to distinguish between us and other System groups or organizations which have nothing to do with us, but who have 'Family-associated' names, and with which in some parts of the world we have at times been confused." — Steven Kelly

Source: "Modifying Our Family Name" (Grapevine 176, pg.2)

External link

• Why the COG changed their name to the Family of Love — Analysis of The Children Of God's name change.