Posted by on October 05, 2008 at 12:03:17
In Reply to: Re: Revolutionary Suicide in PT, CoG, and other groups posted by Edward on October 03, 2008 at 05:49:22:
Addition to above: 2 quotes that may help to discuss the Children of God's belief in Revolutionary Suicide.
1) The "revolutionary suicide" was not only used by social and government bodies but also by other religious movements like the Children of God. The suicide was interpreted by Berg as a major source of the growing repression towards all religious minorities: "It's all part of the Devil's own conspiracyagaisnt the Lord and his people! They hounded those poor people literally to death!... They've beaten, kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured and even killed us!" (MO
Letter 742, 1978. Emphasis Original).
2) He received "revelations" from God identifying himself as the "End Time Prophet" who would play a major role in the Second Coming, the long anticipated return to earth of Jesus Christ.
New members were encouraged to sever all contact with their families of origin, to donate almost their entire possessions to the group, and become full time evangelists. Their parents were justifiably concerned about the status, future and safety of their adult children.
David Berg, now called Moses David, first attempted to disperse the membership among many communes (called colonies) throughout the United States. He later prophesied that a comet would hit the United States and destroy all life. This motivated the group to organize the "Great Escape", an exodus whereby almost all of the members left the U.S. and settled in various countries in Europe, South America, India and Australia.
Berg made contact with Abrahim, a spirit guide, which he had acquired in a Gypsy camp. Later he revealed "other spiritual contacts with the dead."