About this episode
The Children of God cult aka The Family aka The Family International is still around today which is very disturbing considering their twisted origins and disgusting, sexually exploitive doctrinal past. Founded by David "Huge Perv" Berg in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, they now operate to an unknown degree internationally, basing their existence in a highly sexualized interpretation of Biblical teachings, interpreting God's love as being expressed best through sex. Berg initially took a second wife saying it was God's will, as cult leaders so often do. He then began showing his followers "God's love" first through secret orgies with high-ranking members, then through the demand to share cult member's wives, who were suddenly forbidden to deny male members "God's love". David then commanded female members to spread God's love and do missionary work, which centered around "Flirty Fishing", i.e., having sex with random dudes to encourage them to join the cult. From there, women members, were pushed into "Hooking for Jesus" - outright prostitution. And from there, members were encouraged to show their children "God's love" as outright pedophilia was sanctioned and encouraged, even when it was incestuous. All based on creative Biblical interpretation of course! This people are insane. And you learn all about them in today's fascinating and mind-boggling edition of Timesuck! Timesuck is brought to you today by Away! For $20 off a suitcase, visit awaytravel.com/timesuck and use promo code TIMESUCK during checkout Timesuck is also brought to you by The Great Courses Plus! To access your free trial with unlimited access to their vase library of incredible courses, visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/TIMESUCK Sign up today! It's free! Merch - https://badmagicmerch.com/ Want to try out Discord!?! https://discord.gg/tqzH89v Want to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group ? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever current page hasn't been put in FB Jail :) For all merch related questions: https://badmagicmerch.com/pages/contact Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG, @timesuckpodcast on Twitter, and www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcast Wanna be a Space Lizard? We're over 3000 strong! Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast Sign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits. And, thank you for supporting the show by doing your Amazon shopping after clicking on my Amazon link at www.timesuckpodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.