1 / 19

Growing Up in A New Religious Movement: A Study of the Second Generation of The Family

Growing Up in A New Religious Movement: A Study of the Second Generation of The Family. The Second Generation. Second Generation is the future of new religious movements (NRMs) Will they adopt or question their parents’ ideals? How do they feel about being in a NRM?. Who is The Family?.

claral
Download Presentation

Growing Up in A New Religious Movement: A Study of the Second Generation of The Family

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Growing Up in A New Religious Movement: A Study of the Second Generation of The Family

  2. The Second Generation • Second Generation is the future of new religious movements (NRMs) • Will they adopt or question their parents’ ideals? • How do they feel about being in a NRM?

  3. Who is The Family? • Founded in 1968 as the Children of God • Early Christians • Communal living • Dedicated to spreading the Word of God • Current membership of 12,000 world wide

  4. David Berg (1919 – 1994) • Founder and absolute leader • Modern day prophet from God • Spoke to his people through MO Letters

  5. Beliefs and Practices • Communal Living • Combo’s, Teen Homes • Perception of the Outside • Us vs. Them • Education • End-time • Discipline • Corporal Punishment • Silence Restriction

  6. Sexual Practices • Sexual beliefs followed Berg’s • Sex and Christianity • MO Letters • “One Wife” (1972) • “Flirty Little Fish” (1974) • “The Devil Hates Sex but God Loves It!” (1980)

  7. Sexual Practices Concerning Children • Sexual acts among children • Sexual acts between adults and children • Publications • Book of Davidito (late 1970s) • Basic Training Handbook (1986) • Heaven’s Girl (late 1980s)

  8. The Love Charter • Published in 1995 – new leadership • Changes in Practices • Second-generation • Education • Sex

  9. Methods • Criteria • Former second-generation members • Interviews • Face to face • Phone • Email

  10. Sample Demographics • 12 Subjects • 4 Female 8 Male • Current Ages: 19 – 30 • All Caucasian except for one Asian • Nine of the participants mentioned having been sexually abused before the age of 18 • Three of the participants mentioned being physically abused • Six of the participants have family or close friends who are still members

  11. Themes • Relationship with Parents • Relationship with Siblings • Relationship with Relatives • Adjusting to a New Life

  12. Relationship with ParentsSeparation From Parents • Living Situation • Combo’s • Everyone is family • When a Parent leaves the Family • Back-sliders • Minimal to no contact allowed

  13. Relationship with ParentsCommunication after leaving the Family • Parents are still in the Family • Conflicting Beliefs • Minimal Contact • Starting a New Life • Parents are out of the Family • Parents show no Remorse • Parents show Remorse • Hard to forgive

  14. Relationship with Siblings • While in the Family • Separation • After leaving the Family • Siblings still in the Family • Different views and beliefs • Siblings out of the Family • Provide Support

  15. Relationship with Relatives • Separated from Relatives outside of the Family • Hard to Rebuild Relationships once Subjects left the Family • Lack of Extended Family Network • Support for Subjects if Relationship was healthy

  16. Going into the System Relating with non-members Sharing their experiences with non-members Lacking Necessary Skills “A child is raised in a communist sex cult and brainwashed into believing that the Family lifestyle is superior to that of the outside world. At age 13, after a lifetime of isolation, indoctrination and abuse, he is allowed to attend a public high school.” Adjusting to Mainstream Society

  17. Conclusion • Effects of the Family on Relationships • Adjusting • Feeling about the Family • What could have helped

  18. Acknowledgements • Participants in my Study • Dr. Ben Feinberg • Dr. Siti Kusujiarti • My mother Ricky Rodriguez (1975-2005)

  19. Questions?

More Related