Religious cult survivor to discuss the power of influence at Belfast event
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Petra Velzeboer was born into one of the world’s most notorious religious movements – The Children of God- later renamed The Family International.
The Children of God was a controversial new religious movement founded in the late 1960s by David Berg in the United States.
Initially emerging during the countercultural era, the group began as a Christian evangelical commune that attracted young followers with messages about love, spiritual renewal, and rejection of mainstream society. Members lived in communal homes and were encouraged to engage in intense missionary activity, often through street evangelism and shared living arrangements.
Over time, the organisation became increasingly controversial due to allegations of psychological manipulation, authoritarian leadership, and sexual abuse, including the introduction of practices known as “Flirty Fishing” in the 1970s, which involved some members using sexual relationships as a form of proselytisation. Critics and former members have also described strict internal control, isolation from outsiders, and the exploitation of members, including children.
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