Christian Research Journal: Inside the "Heavenly Elite" - Revision history

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	== Inside the "Heavenly Elite": The Children of God Today ==		== Inside the "Heavenly Elite": The Children of God Today ==
	''by Dalva Lynch, ~~with~~ Paul Carden''		''by Dalva Lynch, translated by Paul Carden''

	(''from the [[:Category:Press:Christian Research Journal\|Christian Research Journal]], Summer [[1990]], page 16. The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.'')		(''from the [[:Category:Press:Christian Research Journal\|Christian Research Journal]], Summer [[1990]], page 16. The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.'')
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	Though inside news of the COG has been lacking, the cult is far from dead. Recent internal statistics put total membership at nearly 13,000 worldwide.[1]		Though inside news of the COG has been lacking, the cult is far from dead. Recent internal statistics put total membership at nearly 13,000 worldwide.[1]

	[[Dalva Lynch]] spent some 15 years in the Children of God. She was a drug addict working as a free lance journalist in Rio de Janeiro when she joined in 1974. At one time she was a top leader in the Brazilian COG and worked for ~~three~~ years as a translator for World Services, the group's elite administrative branch. She married [[Robert Dennis Lynch]] in 1976, and for a time they served together at the top of the cult's leadership in Brazil -- later ~~travelling~~ to Egypt and the U.S., where ~~she~~ worked again as a World Services translator for a year. In December 1985 Dalva was thrown out of her own home in Dallas, Texas by local COG leaders who sent her, alone, to Brazil; she has not seen her children since. (Their father ~~is presumed~~ to ~~be in the cult's leadership in either Japan or~~ the Philippines.) In Brazil she rejoined the group and was made to marry a male companion, by whom she had two more children before being expelled for the last time in July 1988.		[[Dalva Lynch]] spent some 15 years in and out of the Children of God. She was a drug addict working as a free lance journalist in Rio de Janeiro when she joined in 1974. At one time she was a top leader in the Brazilian COG and worked for two years as a translator for World Services, the group's elite administrative branch. She married [[Robert Dennis Lynch]] in 1976, and for a time they served together at the top of the cult's leadership in Brazil. They later travelled to Egypt and the U.S., where Dalva worked again as a World Services translator for a year. In December 1985 Dalva was thrown out of her own home in Dallas, Texas by local COG leaders who sent her, alone, to Brazil; she has not seen her children since. (Their father later on went to Indonesia and the Philippines.) In Brazil she rejoined the group again in search of her children and was made to marry a male companion, by whom she had two more children before being expelled for the last time in July 1988 for threatening to go to the Brazilian Federal Police if the group didn´t release her children.

	Dalva offers us a rare glimpse into the COG's shadowy world. David Berg's eldest daughter, [[Deborah Davis]], left the cult in 1978; not since her explosive 1984 book[2] has anyone detailed the inner workings of this cult...and the consequences of Moses David's perverted teachings on the lives of his followers.		Dalva offers us a rare glimpse into the COG's shadowy world. David Berg's eldest daughter, [[Deborah Davis]], left the cult in 1978; not since her explosive 1984 book[2] has anyone detailed the inner workings of this cult...and the consequences of Moses David's perverted teachings on the lives of his followers.
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	Because of the seriousness of her allegations, the JOURNAL has sought either documentation or independent confirmation of the events and doctrines she describes here. At one time, Dalva had all of the evidence in her possession, but when she and her companion left the COG they were frisked carefully and relieved of any literature considered a "breach of security." Some of the internal literature she cites is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Bear in mind also that the situation inside the cult is constantly changing, and that its perversions vary somewhat in degree from region to region.		Because of the seriousness of her allegations, the JOURNAL has sought either documentation or independent confirmation of the events and doctrines she describes here. At one time, Dalva had all of the evidence in her possession, but when she and her companion left the COG they were frisked carefully and relieved of any literature considered a "breach of security." Some of the internal literature she cites is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Bear in mind also that the situation inside the cult is constantly changing, and that its perversions vary somewhat in degree from region to region.

	The following is ~~adapted from~~ a manuscript, "A Elite Celestial" (The Heavenly Elite), which Dalva wrote for the Brazilian police and press in 1989, and which Paul Carden -- CRI's International Coordinator -- translated from the Portuguese.		The following is a translation of a manuscript, "A Elite Celestial" (The Heavenly Elite), which Dalva wrote for the Brazilian police and press in 1989, and which Paul Carden -- CRI's International Coordinator -- translated from the Portuguese.

	For its friends and sympathizers, the COG is a paradise where righteousness, freedom, love, and peace become reality -- with beautiful, smiling children; young and handsome adults; and sumptuous, well-appointed mansions. But it was only through "white lies" and cruelty that Moses David and his disciples managed to build their Shangri-la. Its external members are oblivious to what goes on inside, and they promise their unconditional support and protection in the belief that their tithes are helping a marvelous organization. They don't know that the children's smiles hide a life of sex, prohibitions, and falsehoods; that vaccinations are forbidden; that they frequently spend months at a time confined to their lovely mansions due to epidemics of whooping cough, rubella, and mumps; and that they rarely have a mother and father who live together.		For its friends and sympathizers, the COG is a paradise where righteousness, freedom, love, and peace become reality -- with beautiful, smiling children; young and handsome adults; and sumptuous, well-appointed mansions. But it was only through "white lies" and cruelty that Moses David and his disciples managed to build their Shangri-la. Its external members are oblivious to what goes on inside, and they promise their unconditional support and protection in the belief that their tithes are helping a marvelous organization. They don't know that the children's smiles hide a life of sex, prohibitions, and falsehoods; that vaccinations are forbidden; that they frequently spend months at a time confined to their lovely mansions due to epidemics of whooping cough, rubella, and mumps; and that they rarely have a mother and father who live together.

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	1 "Worldwide Stats!" in Family News, August 1988, 6. <br>		1 "Worldwide Stats!" in Family News, August 1988, 6. <br>
	2 Deborah Davis, The Children of God: The Inside Story (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). <br>		2 Deborah Davis, [[The Children of God: The Inside Story]] (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). <br>
	3 Heaven's Children (Zurich: World Services, April 1987), 391. <br>		3 [[Heaven's Children]] (Zurich: World Services, April 1987), 391. <br>
	4 Davis, 204. <br>		4 Davis, 204. <br>
	5 The Story of Davidito (Zurich: World Services, January 1982). <br>		5 [[The Story of Davidito]] (Zurich: World Services, January 1982). <br>
	6 See Basic Training Handbook (Zurich: World Services, February 1987), 293-96, 451-59. <br>		6 See [[Basic Training Handbook]] (Zurich: World Services, February 1987), 293-96, 451-59. <br>
	7 See, e.g., "Make it Work!," ML ["MO Letter"]#2433, 6/88 (reprinted in Good News #331, September 88, 1ff). <br>		7 See, e.g., "[[Make it Work!]]," ML ["MO Letter"]#2433, 6/88 (reprinted in Good News #331, September 88, 1ff). <br>
	8 Heaven's Children, 233-35, 300. <br>		8 Heaven's Children, 233-35, 300. <br>
	9 Moses David is nearly incapacitated by old age and ill health (including the effects of alcoholism). He is believed to be living in Brazil. <br>		9 Moses David is nearly incapacitated by old age and ill health (including the effects of alcoholism). He is believed to be living in Brazil. <br>
	10 The U.S. watched her story on the ABC television program "20/20" in July 1988. <br>		10 The U.S. watched her story on the ABC television program "[[ABC News 20/20: To Bring Her Children Home\|20/20]]" in July 1988. <br>
	11 For one of his earlier tirades on child custody and the threat of legal action taken because of the child sex issue, see "Guard Your Children," ML #1698, 12/83 (abridged in Daily Bread, vol. 2 [Zurich: World Services, June 1985], 180-88). <br>		11 For one of his earlier tirades on child custody and the threat of legal action taken because of the child sex issue, see "[[Guard Your Children!\|Guard Your Children]]," ML #1698, 12/83 (abridged in Daily Bread, vol. 2 [Zurich: World Services, June 1985], 180-88). <br>
	12 A version appears in Treasures (Zurich: World Services, July 1987), 664-72. <br>		12 A version appears in Treasures (Zurich: World Services, July 1987), 664-72. <br>

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Indian Joe: Article from the Christian Research Journal Summer 1990

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	''by Dalva Lynch, with Paul Carden''		''by Dalva Lynch, with Paul Carden''

	'''from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1990, page 16. The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.'''		'''from the [[:Category:Press:Christian Research Journal\|Christian Research Journal]], Summer [[1990]], page 16. The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.'''

	The international cult known as the [[Children of God]] (COG), the [[Family of Love]], or [[Heaven's Magic]] has become famous for its radical rejection of conventional social values while maintaining a "Christian" facade. Founded by "Moses" [[David Berg]] in the late 1960s as a deviant segment of the "Jesus People" movement, the group gradually sank into paranoid secrecy and nearly every known form of sexual excess. Despite receiving heavy publicity in years past, outside observers know little about the cult's present inner workings. The group's most sensitive literature and videos are hidden from the public and even from their external members; COG disciples keep a "fleebag" ready at all times in case their homes are raided by local authorities.		The international cult known as the [[Children of God]] (COG), the [[Family of Love]], or [[Heaven's Magic]] has become famous for its radical rejection of conventional social values while maintaining a "Christian" facade. Founded by "Moses" [[David Berg]] in the late 1960s as a deviant segment of the "Jesus People" movement, the group gradually sank into paranoid secrecy and nearly every known form of sexual excess. Despite receiving heavy publicity in years past, outside observers know little about the cult's present inner workings. The group's most sensitive literature and videos are hidden from the public and even from their external members; COG disciples keep a "fleebag" ready at all times in case their homes are raided by local authorities.
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	Notes		Notes

	1 "Worldwide Stats!" in Family News, August 1988, 6.		1 "Worldwide Stats!" in Family News, August 1988, 6. <br>
	2 Deborah Davis, The Children of God: The Inside Story (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984).		2 Deborah Davis, The Children of God: The Inside Story (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). <br>
	3 Heaven's Children (Zurich: World Services, April 1987), 391.		3 Heaven's Children (Zurich: World Services, April 1987), 391. <br>
	4 Davis, 204.		4 Davis, 204. <br>
	5 The Story of Davidito (Zurich: World Services, January 1982).		5 The Story of Davidito (Zurich: World Services, January 1982). <br>
	6 See Basic Training Handbook (Zurich: World Services, February 1987), 293-96, 451-59.		6 See Basic Training Handbook (Zurich: World Services, February 1987), 293-96, 451-59. <br>
	7 See, e.g., "Make it Work!," ML ["MO Letter"]#2433, 6/88 (reprinted in Good News #331, September 88, 1ff).		7 See, e.g., "Make it Work!," ML ["MO Letter"]#2433, 6/88 (reprinted in Good News #331, September 88, 1ff). <br>
	8 Heaven's Children, 233-35, 300.		8 Heaven's Children, 233-35, 300. <br>
	9 Moses David is nearly incapacitated by old age and ill health (including the effects of alcoholism). He is believed to be living in Brazil.		9 Moses David is nearly incapacitated by old age and ill health (including the effects of alcoholism). He is believed to be living in Brazil. <br>
	10 The U.S. watched her story on the ABC television program "20/20" in July 1988.		10 The U.S. watched her story on the ABC television program "20/20" in July 1988. <br>
	11 For one of his earlier tirades on child custody and the threat of legal action taken because of the child sex issue, see "Guard Your Children," ML #1698, 12/83 (abridged in Daily Bread, vol. 2 [Zurich: World Services, June 1985], 180-88).		11 For one of his earlier tirades on child custody and the threat of legal action taken because of the child sex issue, see "Guard Your Children," ML #1698, 12/83 (abridged in Daily Bread, vol. 2 [Zurich: World Services, June 1985], 180-88). <br>
	12 A version appears in Treasures (Zurich: World Services, July 1987), 664-72.		12 A version appears in Treasures (Zurich: World Services, July 1987), 664-72. <br>

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	[[Category:Press]]		[[Category:Press:Christian Research Journal]]