Children of God film to premiere September 6 on HBO.

July 20, 2007 11:55 AM

Children of God film to premiere September 6 on HBO. Filmmaker Noah Thomson goes in search of the young adults who have made a life for themselves outside of the controversial Christian cult "The Children of God." [previously] Many children of this cult have failed to thrive in the outside world and committed suicide, unable to adjust to life in a society indifferent to their abuse as children. Premieres Thursday September 6 on HBO. Link to trailer (sound is low). Jane Magazine has an article on the group and Noah Thompson in its June/July issue. [link to text and PDF scans].
posted by k8t (18 comments total)

Film at 7

Looks good, thanks.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:07 PM on July 20, 2007

I remember reading about the documentary's premiere this past January.

Documentary Screening Ends in Melee

"While the net[work] has not threatened legal action, insiders say HBO will not be shy about pursuing the protesters if they try to disseminate pirated material or interfere with pic's release."

posted by ericb at 12:11 PM on July 20, 2007

Thanks for the post. I am going to see if there's anyone we can get on my show around the same time.
posted by parmanparman at 12:12 PM on July 20, 2007

@ericb: I don't really understand that article. What "pirated" material was HBO talking about? One of the cult members was apparently wearing a microphone, but I don't get what they were recording. The audio from the film? The Q&A? It just seems really odd all around.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:15 PM on July 20, 2007

ABC: Former Children of God Member Seeks Revenge - Part 1 | Part 2.
posted by ericb at 12:16 PM on July 20, 2007

ABC: To Bring Her Children Home - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3.
posted by ericb at 12:18 PM on July 20, 2007

What "pirated" material was HBO talking about?

I have no idea -- unless the discovery of the microphone made HBO think they may have also been filming the screen during the premiere -- with the intent of lifting footage and replaying it in a rebuttal. Who knows?
posted by ericb at 12:20 PM on July 20, 2007

Here are some World of Wonder (production company) blog posts about the Slamdance Festival encounter with current members.

[1] [2]
posted by k8t at 12:21 PM on July 20, 2007

Female bisexuality is sanctioned, though female homosexuality at the complete exclusion of men is not permitted.

Of COURSE not.
posted by The Straightener at 12:38 PM on July 20, 2007 [2 favorites]

Is this in any way related to Chuck Palahniuk's book Survivor?
posted by vsync at 12:42 PM on July 20, 2007

Children of God was and remains an absolutely terrifying organization - especially because of the way it treats children and parenthood. David Berg was an unstable (to say the least) pedophile with a profound messianic complex. He sort of typophies the charasmatic Christianist IMHO. Anyway - there are many interesting links at the bottom of the Children of God wikipedia article - especially xFamily, a wiki covering Family activity.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 2:22 PM on July 20, 2007

Members are encouraged to imagine that Jesus is having sex with them, during sexual intercourse and masturbation. Male members are told to visualize themselves as women, in order to avoid a homosexual relationship with Jesus.

If there's one thing Jesus hates...
posted by SweetJesus at 3:05 PM on July 20, 2007

from Wikipedia: "Members are encouraged to imagine that Jesus is having sex with them, during sexual intercourse and masturbation. Male members are told to visualize themselves as women, in order to avoid a homosexual relationship with Jesus."

That first time with the J-man must be a penetrating experience ... suppose he's into end times?
posted by Twang at 3:11 PM on July 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

The YouTube channel recently started has some pretty unsavoury stuff. (As well as the coda to the Shillander story ("ABC: To Bring Her Children Home"): five years later the husband moved to the U.S and the mother returned custody of the children to him, as per their request. Francisco/Tito appears in the other ABC piece, telling a different story about their early childhood this time; it seems Caleb committed suicide last December (there is a site and a blog of sorts).
posted by progosk at 4:09 PM on July 20, 2007

Strangely, I had a roommate a couple of years ago who grew up in the family. She staunchly denies that anything bad ever happened to her (anything sexual that is, she's got some interesting other stories). Her sister is apparently a vocal critic of the cult and I think does claim to have been molested, but my roomie more or less just labelled her as a troublemaker and a liar. I do think it's interesting though that my roommate has some kind of deathly fear of gynecological exams (moreso than the regular displeasure of the whole experience) and apparently always freaks out when it's time to have one. Always made me wonder....
posted by Hal Mumkin at 7:15 PM on July 20, 2007

River Phoenix.
posted by Brian B. at 9:54 PM on July 20, 2007

Jesus is coming again!
posted by null terminated at 12:18 AM on July 21, 2007

Flirty fishing for kicks.
posted by asok at 3:35 AM on July 21, 2007