Talking with the Children of God: Prophecy and Transformation in a Radical Religious Group

"In this intriguing and eminently readable account of the inner workings of `a heretical religion' following the death of its founder, Gordon and Gary Shepherd introduce us to a number of organizational developments, such as the democratization of prophecy, that could astonish not a few students of religion."---Eileen Barker, professor emeritus, London School of Economics

Talking with the Children of God is a unique study of the radical religious movement now known as The Family International. The book draws on extraordinarily candid interviews with the group's leaders and administrative staff. In revealing new information about the organization's history, beliefs, and use of prophecy, Gordon Shepherd and Gary Shepherd offer a highly detailed case study that is both an antidote to sensationalized coverage of the group and a means for understanding the transformational practices of new religious movements in general.

One of the most controversial groups emerging from the Jesus People movement of the 1960s, the Family originally was known as The Children of God. Under leader David Berg, members proclaimed an apocalyptic "Endtime," shunned secular occupations, lived communally, and adopted unusual sexual practices that led to abuse scandals in the 1970s and 1980s. Following Berg's death in 1994, the organization began to dramatically alter its evangelization efforts and decision-making processes.

This book builds a picture of a complex organization with ten thousand core members worldwide, including details on the lives, careers, and responsibilities of the second generation and their efforts to defend their faith. In particular, the authors analyze the organization's use of prophecy---or channeled revelations from Jesus and other spiritual beings---for making decisions and setting policy, revealing how this essentially democratic process works and how it shapes Family life and culture.

The result of sixteen years of surveys and field observations conducted in Family member homes in sixteen countries, the volume includes condensed transcripts of the interviews with analysis by Shepherd and Shepherd.

Gordon Shepherd is a professor of sociology at the University of Central Arkansas. Gary Shepherd is a professor of sociology at Oakland University. They are the coauthors of Mormon Passage: A Missionary Chronicle.