Alice in the Magic Garden by Moses David (also known as David Brandt Berg.) He was the founder and leader of the cult formerly called The Children of God, but now known as “The Family International”.
Published by The Children of God in 1974.
Religious pamphlet using Alice imagery, promoting what is a rather dodgy cult, according to most sources. Allegations made against the organisation include abduction and physical and sexual abuse.
Illustrations signed “Eman Artist”, which is apparently a pseudonym for Hugo Westphal, who was expelled from the ‘family’ after repeated accusations of severe physical abuse against women and children.
River and Joaquin Phoenix were child members of the cult from 1972–1978. River Phoenix, who died of a drug overdose in 1993, has been quoted as saying that “they’re ruining people’s lives”.
All in all an interesting if disturbing piece of ephemera.
Bought in Marchpane Books, Cecil Court.
You can smugly comment on David Berg, Moses David, The Children of God, The Family of Love, etc. They had many names in many languages, in many countries. And yes…tragically…some of the members did some really out of it stuff to fellow members and even children in the group. But those people are gone now. You also did not even state that this pamphlet was a warning to us all to not yield ourselves to the negative words, spirits, and attacks of the devil that can lead to doubts, fears, and even suicidal tendencies. This letter helped MANY people, myself included! AND as a former member, I would like to add my 2 cents. You must realize that most members were ex-hippies, radicals, students, former drug users, young people fed up with the USA warmongering system, and a few did have some problems. They did NOT find the answers they sought in the churches, as most church people in those days were pretty blind to the truths of Jesus and that He was NOT a pro-Establishment, right wing, supporter of the USA Industrial Military Establishment. Thousands of kids joined the group and MANY (and still are -along with their own children) serving Jesus as missionaries around the world, helping thousands with not just words of comfort and faith, but numerous active missionary outreach programs.
Ask AAA, the Catholics, etc. …you can help people change, but when they don`t come clean, they can still drag some of their problems with them. This is a sadly true fact that every church and every religious group has had to contend with.
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Thank you for saying that. It’s not often people speak up when what they say might be seen as controversial.