David Berg

David Brandt Berg (1919–1994) was an American preacher who founded the religious movement known as the Children of God, later renamed The Family International.

David Berg was an American preacher who founded the Children of God, later called The Family International. His movement became notorious for controversial sexual doctrines and allegations of abuse.

Who was David Berg?

David Brandt Berg was born in 1919 and became an American preacher and religious organizer. He established the Children of God in 1968 among counterculture youth in Southern California, positioning himself as the movement's central spiritual authority.

What was the Children of God?

Berg's group began as a Christian commune and later developed into a transnational religious movement renamed The Family International. His teachings emphasized apocalyptic expectations, rejection of mainstream society, and a communal missionary lifestyle, supported by thousands of letters outlining his directives.

Why is he controversial?

Berg and his organization faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct, including child sexual abuse, and were associated with sexualized recruitment methods. These controversies became a defining part of his public reputation as a cult leader.