Children of God is a terrifying look inside a treacherous sex cult that weaponized members’ faith to control the flock. The documentary recounts the Padilla family’s harrowing experience within the religion, what made them susceptible to the teachings, and how they eventually made their escape.
Before I offer my full endorsement, I should warn you that Children of God isn’t a particularly flashy production. It’s presented in 4:3 aspect ratio, looks like it was shot on a handheld camcorder, and appears as if it may be being played back on a VCR with tracking issues. With that said, the documentary does have the distinction of featuring narration by none other than Helen Mirren.
In spite of being rough around the edges, Children of God doesn’t hold back in its depictions of what it was like to live within the sinister organization. The film is often hard to watch and likely to induce some uncomfortable feelings. But it provides eye-opening depictions of what really goes on behind the scenes in a cult.
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The naivety of the members certainly made a lot of what goes on behind-the-scenes possible. But there’s more to it than that. Children of God is a particularly dangerous organization because of the way they mixed the conventional tenants of Christianity with teachings from leader David Brandt Berg. That distinction blurs the lines and makes followers of the Christian faith less likely to see the organization for what it truly is.
Life within the Children of God cult ultimately proves to be a terrifying prospect. Those living within the organization have every aspect of their lives controlled. The children are fed propaganda in video form. And we’re not talking about run-of-the-mill control tactics. The kids were aggressively instructed on even the most innocuous of tasks. Some reported they were told that using more than three squares of toilet paper was sinful because it was “a waste of The Lord’s money.” You really cannot make this stuff up.
In addition to being shamed for overusing bath tissue, children within the organization were also bombarded by literature and films that were explicitly sexual in nature. And all of that served David Brandt Berg’s desire to spread the message of ‘free love’ and ready the kids for their part in that vision. And while their parents should have known better, it was likely quite confusing to them as well. Most of them joined the organization believing they were following Biblical teachings. But with even a little perspective, it’s easy to see they were, in fact, going against many of the core tenants of Christianity, not to mention federal law.
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To a naïve new follower, the Children of God cult might seem like an institution with good intentions and a desire to spread God’s love. But when the layers are peeled back, there is something much darker lurking beneath the surface. In reality, Children of God is little more than a sadistic doomsday sex cult that preys on the unsuspecting and indoctrinates its members to normalize abusive behavior.
Speaking of abusive behavior, the cult actually encouraged women to go so far as to sleep with strange men to share the gospel. It was a tactic called ‘flirty fishing’. Eventually, a communique circulated, suggesting that the ladies collect payment on the occasions when flirty fishing led to sex. The women were told to be a ‘hooker for Jesus’. That’s a direct quote.
With messaging like ‘be a hooker for Jesus’, it’s shocking that the cult had the reach it did. But as of the release of the film in 1994, Children of God was in 76 countries around the globe.
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The film provides a staggering look at what cult members across 76 countries endured. The documentary paints a picture where it’s clear that members’ minds are no longer their own. But those profiled clearly believed with every fiber of their being that they were doing the right thing. And that’s what’s so scary. It’s easy for you or I to say that we would never be susceptible to that kind of overreaching control. But it never starts that way. These organizations begin the brainwashing process slowly and get people in the habit of complying. And from there, the screws are tightened and the requests gradually become more and outlandish. From there, they lose all sense of self and can no longer rely on their own judgment.
Surprisingly, the Children of God organization is still around to this day. After multiple name changes, they now call themselves The Family International. Moreover, the cult has a handful of well-known former members that include Rose McGowan and Joaquin Phoenix.
All in all, Children of God is a harrowing documentary that points to the many ways in which religion has the potential to be dangerous, particularly when it is weaponized and used for selfish gains.
If you’re curious to check the film out for yourself, it is available to stream (free with ads) on the IMDb-owned streaming service Freevee.
Tags: Children of God Dark Documentaries
Categorized: Editorials
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